George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 


ESTABLISHED  BY  THE 


FAMILY  OF 


COLONEL  FLOWERS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhist01chap 


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r .-  ■■  ■ ■ ■ . “ ■ ■ . ■ > 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

CHAPPELL,  DICKIE, 

AND  OTHER  KINDRED  EAMIEIES 

« 

OE  VIRGINIA. 


COMPILED  BY 

E>.  OM 

is:  A i-s  OITY,  IVl  O . 

180S. 


KANSAS  CITY: 
Tiernan-Havens  Printing  Co. 
1895. 


tl^e  memory 

©f  tl]e  tl]ree  Scotcl]  Sisters, 
5usannal|,  Saral]  anb  Elizabeth  Dickie^ 
Cl]is  little  book  is  respectfully 
bebicateb. 


CONTENTS 


I '/ 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Introductory  — First  Settlement  of  Virginia  — 

Historical,  . . . . .5 

II.  Origin  of  the  Chappell  Famila"  — Characteris- 
tics— The  Family  in  England — Immigration 
TO  America — The  Chappells  in  the  Colony  of 
Virginia,  . . . . . IG 

III.  Amelia  County,  Virginia — The  Crawleys — Sarah 

Crawlea" — Jaaies  Chappell  of  Aaielia,  Son  of 
Sarah  Crawley,  . . . . .38 

IV.  John  Chappell  of  Amelia,  Son  of  Sarah  Craw- 

ley— John  Chappell  of  Halifax  — Children 
BY  His  Second  Marriage — The  Dickie  Famila^  60 

V.  John  Chappell  of  Missouri,  . . .78 

VI.  Dickie  Chappell  of  Kentucky — The  Wade  Faai- 

iLY — The  Coaiptons  of  Georgia,  . . 97 

VII.  Robert,  Jaaies  and  Saaiuel,  Sons  of  John  and 
Prudence  Chappell — Williaai,  the  Tennessee 
Branch,  . . . . .118 

VIII.  Joseph  Chappell,  the  Georgia  Branch — Robert 

Chappell,  the  North  Carolina  Branch,  . 137 

IX.  The  Two  South  Carolina  Branches  of  the  Chap- 
pell Faaiily — RoBERr,  THE  Iaiaiigrant  of  1770, 

AND  Thoaias,  the  Iaiaiigrant  of  1750,  . 160 

X.  The  Garlingtons  of  South  Carolina — The  Pate 

Faaiily  of  Virgina,  . . . .177 

XI.  The  Adaais  Faaiila",  . . . .187 

Conclusion,  ......  208 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHAPPELL  FAMILY. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Introductory — First  Settlement  of  Viroinia — Historical. 

^Vlience  came  you  ? How  few  American  families  can  truly 
answer  this  question  ! With  many  it  seems  a matter  of  little  im- 
portance, but  if  nothing  more,  it  is  certainly  gratifying  to  be  able 
to  trace  one’s  lineage  from  generation  to  generation,  down  a long 
line  of  descent,  and  especially  is  this  so,  when,  through  this  long 
line,  no  stain  is  found  on  the  family  name,  and  no  reason  to  blush 
for  the  memory  of  those  who  have  gone  before  us. 

I have  been  asked  how  I came  to  write  this  family  history  ? 
In  the  summer  of  1892  I visited  my  uncle.  Major  John  B.  Adams, 
who  lives  in  a distant  part  of  the  State,  and  my  sister,  Mrs.  Sarah 
D.  Lenoir.  Both  of  these  relatives  had  passed  tlie  usual  limit  of 
years  allotted  to  man.  Our  conversations,  very  naturally,  were  of 
the  past,  and  of  tliose  who  had  long  since  “gone  over  to  the  great  be 
yond.”  In  my  conversations,  with  my  uncle  especially,  he  told  me 
of  the  early  history  of  the  Adams  family,  as  it  had  been  told  him 
by  his  father.  He  also  told  me  much  relating  to  the  early  history 
of  the  Chappells  in  Virginia,  for  he  had  known  many  of  the  older 
members  of  that  family,  and  had  himself  married  a Chappell.  He 
recalled  many  early  family  traditions,  now  forgotten,  except  by 
himself.  I was  impressed  witli  the  importance,  not  only  to  the 
present,  but  to  future  generations,  of  preserving  these  facts  and 
traditions  before  they  were  forever  lost,  that  they  might  be  handed 
down  to  those  who  should  come  after  us — the  descendants  of  these 
old  families.  I had  known  but  little  of  the  history  of  ray  family 


6 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE 


and  had  given  the  subject  no  thought  or  attention.  My  father  and 
mother  had  been  dead  many  years  and  what  had  been  told  me  by 
them  had  been  forgotten. 

In  this  country  and  in  the  fast  age  in  which  we  live,  where 
there  are  no  hereditary  titles,  no  entailment  of  fortunes,  but  little 
attention  is  paid  to  family  lineage,  and  no  written  history  is  pre- 
served. It  is  not  necessary,  as  in  the  older  countries  of  Europe, 
where  society  is  organized  differently.  We  are  born  into  the 
world,  live  out  our  days,  pass  away,  and  are  forgotten  in  a few 
generations.  This  is  a sad  reflection.  The  feeling  of  family 
pride,  and  a reverence  and  love  for  our  family  names  and  tradi- 
tions, which  should  exist  in  the  breast  of  every  one  descended  from 
an  honorable  ancestry,  does  not  prevail  in  this  as  it  does  in  the 
older  countries. 

I knew  of  relatives  living  in  other  states — the  Wades  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  Comptons  of  Georgia  and  the  Chappells  of  Kentucky.  I 
had  never  seen  them,  but  knew  they  were  my  kindred.  I corres- 
ponded with  some  of  them,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  all  the  facts 
obtainable  in  relation  to  the  early  history  of  the  family.  I found 
all  anxious  to  co-operate  with  me  and  to  contribute  what  informa- 
tion they  had  for  the  purpose  in  view.  I also  came  across  old  let- 
ters, preserved  for  years,  and  old  family  Bibles  containing  records, 
yellow  with  age,  and  telling  of  lives  long  since  passed  away. 

After  obtaining  all  the  facts  thus  to  be  obtained,  as  I believed, 
I compiled  and  published  in  January,  1893,  a little  pamphlet,  con- 
taining the  result  of  my  investigations.  This  I distributed  among 
my  relatives  as  far  as  I knew  their  names  and  residences.  I found 
the  distribution  of  this  little  book  had  the  effect  of  awakening  a 
feeling  of  kindred  and  causing  a renewal  of  affectionate  remem- 
brance in  branches  of  the  family  separated  for  years  and  living, 
many  of  them,  in  distant  states.  So  many  years  had  elapsed  that 
the  different  branches  of  the  family  had  entirely  lost  sight  of  each 
other.  The  pamphlet  seemed  to  bring  us  all  closer  together,  to 
revive  a family  pride  in  the  ancestral  name,  and  to  awaken  in  our 
veins  the  clannish  blood  of  our  Scotch  ancestors. 

Among  those  I came  in  correspondence  with  were,  Hon. 
J.  Chappell  Compton,  of  Selma,  Ala.,  and  Mr.  Robert  L.  Traylor^ 
of  Richmond,  Va. , both  related  to  these  old  families,  and  both 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHEP  KINDRED  FAMILIES.  7 

educated  and  accomplished  gentlemen.  These  seemed,  especially, 
to  appreciate  the  effort  I was  making  for  the  common  interest  of 
all,  and  have  not  only  encouraged  me,  hut  have  done  all  in  their 
power  to  aid  me  in  my  work,  without  which  I might  have  aban- 
doned the  task — a task,  which,  at  times,  has  seemed  overwhelming 
with  insurmountable  difficulties.  With  one  in  the  East  and  the 
other  in  the  South,  their  co-operation  has  been  invaluable.  I 
desire,  also,  to  thank  other  members  of  the  families  for  assistance 
and  information,  among  whom  are  D.  T.  Chappell  of  Kansas  City, 
Wm.  B.  Chappell,  of  Tenn.,  Mrs.  Abigail  Hart,  of  Fayette,  Mo., 
Mrs.  Fanny  Oliver,  of  Rockford,  Texas,  Samuel  L.  Adams,  of  N. 
C.,  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Pointer,  of  Halifax  Co.,  Va.,  Henry  Adams,  of 
Texas,  Capt.  E.  A.  Garlington,  U.  S.  Army,  Mrs.  R.  W.  Simpson, 
of  S.  C.,  Mr.  T.  C.  Garlington,  of  Ala.,  M.  D.  Garlington,  of 
Dallas,  Texas,  George  Chappell,  of  Charlotte  Co.,  Va.,  Thos.  J. 
Chappell,  of  Columbus,  Ga.,  Dr.  J.  T.  Chappell,  of  Dublin,  Ga., 
and  many  others.  From  these  and  other  kindred  I have  obtained 
a good  part  of  the  traditional  information,  letters  and  old  manu- 
scripts, which  have  enabled  me  to  write  this  history.  All  have 
shown  a willingness  to  aid  me,  and  on  behalf,  not  only  of  myself, 
but  of  the  descendants  of  these  old  Virginian  families,  I desire  to 
express  my  gratitude  to  them. 

After  the  publication  of  the  pamphlet,  I very  naturally  dis- 
covered several  important  errors,  as  the  information  it  contained 
had  been  obtained  solely  from  tradition.  I also  gained  from  sub- 
sequent correspondence  a vast  amount  of  additional  information — 
much  of  it  relating  to  the  early  history  of  our  ancestors — not 
referred  to  in  the  pamphlet.  All  of  this  seemed  too  valuable  to  be 
lost. 

I have  treated  each  of  the  families  referred  to  in  these  pages, 
as  different  branches  of  the  same  family,  for  they  are  so  related  by 
ties  of  consanguinity  or  intermarriage,  that  the^^  may  be  properly 
so  considered.  In  September,  1893,  with  the  determination  of 
re-writing  our  family  history,  making  it  full  and  complete,  and 
going  to  the  very  bottom  of  the  task  I had  undertaken,  I visited 
Virginia,  the  old  country  from  which  our  ancestors  came.  I went 
to  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  followed  their  footsteps  from  the 
mouth  of  James  River,  where  they  landed,  on  coming  to  Amer- 


8 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


ica,  in  1635  ; thence  to  Snrry  and  Sussex  comities  ; on  to  Charles 
City  county,  in  1661  ; across  the  river  to  Prince  George  and  Din- 
widdle, in  1720,  and  from  there  to  Amelia,  in  1746.  From  there 
the  path  led  to  that  grand  old  connty^ — ^Halifax — at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  1782  ; and  from  Halifax,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  nineteenth  century,  across  the  Cumberland  and  Alleghany 
mountains  to  Georgia,  Tennessee,  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  on  to 
Texas,  the  ultima  thule  of  American  civilization.  I traveled,  in 
three  days,  over  the  same  ground  and  over  the  same  route  which 
they  were  two  centuries  and  more  in  traversing.  I followed  the 
same  course  over  the  Blue  Ridge  and  Alleghanies,  down  to  Chatta- 
nooga and  Nashville  ; then  on  to  Western  Kentucky,  passing  over 
the  same  county  road  in  Christian  county  that  my  father  had 
passed  over  in  1835,  on  his  first  trip  to  Missouri.  I saw  in  Amelia, 
Prince  Edward  and  Halifax  counties  in  Virginia,  the  same  red 
clay  hills,  and  the  same  old  field  pines,  that  had  been  described  to 
me  in  my  childhood.  I visited  the  Virginia  home  of  my  parents 
and  stood  by  the  graves  of  my  forefathers.  What  tender  recollec- 
tions were  awakened  by  these  scenes  of  the  dear  ones  long  since 
passed  away.  I found,  in  my  father’s  old  home,  in  Halifax  county, 
on  a pane  of  glass,  my  mother’s  name,  cut  there  indelibly,  when 
she  was  a bride,  sixty  years  ago. 

I went  to  the  county  seats  of  Amelia  and  other  counties,  the 
former  homes  of  our  ancestors,  and  delved  among  the  old  records, 
yellow  with  age  and  covered  with  the  dust  of  two  centuries.  Took 
from  shelves  old  books  and  papers  placed  there  a hundred  years 
before  I was  born,  moth  eaten  and  decayed  ; examined  old  deeds, 
wills,  settlements  of  estates  and  marriage  bonds,  signed  by  those 
who  are  dead  and  gone,  many,  many  years  ago.  I gathered  a date 
here,  a name  there,  hunted  for  a missing  link  until  I found  it,  fol- 
lowed up  one  clew  after  another  until  I had  gathered  the  facts — 
indisputable  facts — as  given  in  these  pages.  In  addition  to  this 
source  of  information,  I visited,  in  person,  many  old  people, 
especially  in  Amelia  and  Halifax,  and  learned  from  them  all  the 
traditions  of  the  family  to  be  obtained.  I found  several,  now  four 
score  years  old,  who  remembered  the  older  members  of  the  family 
and  who  related  to  me  many  very  interesting  incidents  of  these  old 
people,  their  characters,  customs  and  peculiarities. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


9 


111  the  city  of  Richmond  I was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  R.  A.  Brock,  historian  and  antiquarian,  and  the 
most  accomplished  genealogist  in  Virginia,  to  whom  I am  greatly 
indebted,  especially  for  the  family  history  in  the  colonial  days  of 
Virginia.  Mr.  Brock  was,  for  many  years  prior  to  1893,  secretary 
of  the  Virginia  Historical  Society,  and  edited  the  eleven  volumes 
of  invaluable  “ Collections,”  and  is  at  present  secretary  of  the 
“ Southern  Historical  Society.”  In  addition  to  an  extensive  col- 
lection of  rare  and  valuable  printed  volumes,  manuscripts,  jour- 
nals, documents  and  letters,  he  possesses,  as  the  fruits  of  a life- 
time’s gleanings,  eight  large  folio  volumes  of  minute  manuscript, 
genealogical  memoranda,  embracing  unpublished  information  of 
nearly  every  family  name  of  consequence,  identified  with  Virginia 
for  the  last  three  centuries,  the  equivalent  of  many  thousand  printed 
pages.  The  names  of  the  earlier  Chappells  are  frequently  men- 
tioned in  these  pages. 

The  result  of  my  researches  may  be  found  in  this  little  book. 
I am  not  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  the  paramount  virtue  of  the 
historian  is  truthfulness.  I have  attempted  to  write  the  truth,  and 
the  story  of  the  lives  of  these  old  people,  as  given  here,  is  not 
overdrawn  ; it  is  the  true  and  unvarnished  history  of  these  old 
Southern  families,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  colony  of  Vir- 
ginia to  the  present  time,  a period  that  embraces  the  most  import- 
ant epoch  in  the  history  of  the  civilized  world,  and  the  most  im- 
portant event — the  transplanting  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  from 
the  old  to  the  new  world. 

Errors  may  be  found  in  the  names  given,  they  can  not  be 
avoided  in  the  multitude,  but  the  data,  as  taken  from  the  records 
of  Virginia,  are  indisputable,  and  the  traditions,  as  given,  are 
believed  to  be  reliable.  On  account  of  the  many  branches,  I have 
been  compelled  to  curtail  the  scope  of  the  work  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, and  even  as  it  is,  it  is  much  more  voluminous  than  I antici- 
pated. I trust,  however,  that  it  will  be  found  to  contain  the  gene- 
alogy complete,  or  as  nearly  so  as  can  be  ascertained,  of  each 
branch  of  the  family. 

The  work  accomplished  has  required  patience,  perseverance 
and  a vast  amount  of  correspondence  and  labor,  but  it  has  been 
with  me,  a labor  of  love — love  for  the  name  “ Chappell  ” — and 


10 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


love  for  my  kindred,  wherever  they  may  be.  In  another  genera- 
tion, from  the  ravages  of  time  alone,  the  data  obtained,  especially 
from  the  old  records  of  Virginia,  would,  in  all  probability,  have 
been  lost  to  us  forever,  and  if  no  other  good  is  accomplished,  I 
trust  this  history  will  serve  to  rescue  from  oblivion,  and  perpetu- 
ate the  names  and  sacred  memories  of  those  noble  old  men  and 
women  who  have  long  since  passed  to  another  world,  but  who 
have  transmitted  to  us,  their  descendants,  sound  bodies  and  minds, 
and  have  left  us  as  a heritage  that  which  is  above  all  else  in  value — 
names  without  tarnish  or  reproach. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  VIRGINIA,  1607. 

As  the  first  settlement  of  the  Chappell  family,  and  some  of  the 
others  mentioned  in  this  history,  was  contemporaneous  with  the 
establishment  of  the  first  English  colony  in  Virginia,  a brief  re- 
view of  the  history  of  that  colony  will  be  necessary  to  fix  the  dates 
referred  to  in  the  mind  of  the  reader,  and  may  not  prove  uninter- 
esting. 

It  was  ninety-twm  years  after  the  discovery  of  America  by 
Columbus,  and  almost  as  long  after  the  first  voyage  of  John  Cabot, 
the  English  discoverer  to  the  coast  of  Virginia,  before  any  attempt 
was  made  by  the  English  to  gain  a foot-hold  in  the  New  World. 
In  1584,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  acting  under  a charter  granted  by 
Queen  Elizabeth,  attempted  to  establish  a colony  on  Roanoke 
Island,  off  the  coast  of  North  Carolina.  The  first  attempt  having 
failed,  he  again,  in  1585  and  1586,  brought  over  additional  colo- 
nists. The  last  of  these  adventurers  having  been  massacred  by  the 
Indians,  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  having  bankrupted  himself  in  his 
venture,  the  attempt  was  abandoned,  and  the  close  of  the  sixteenth 
century  found  no  English  settlement  in  America. 

No  further  attempt  was  made  by  the  English  to  establish  a 
colony  until  1606.  In  that  year  a charter  was  granted  a company 
called  the  “London  Company,”  by  King  James.  On  the  16th  of 
April,  1607,  after  a voyage  of  four  months  in  crossing  the  Atlantic, 
they  landed  at  the  mouth  of  James  River,  and  ascended  that  stream 
fifty  miles  to  a low  peninsula,  and  there  on  the  13th  of  May,  1607, 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHEK  KIKDPED  FAMILIES. 


11 


founded  the  first  permanent  Engdish  settlement  in  America,  calling 
the  place  Jamestown,  after  their  sovereign.* 

The  selection  of  the  location  of  the  town  was  unfortunate.  It 
was  a low,  flat,  sickly  country,  and  the  colonists  were  a shiftless 
set,  unused  to  hardship  and  labor,  and  were  composed  mostly  of 
the  youuger  sons  of  the  nobility.  In  the  first  year  nearly  one-half 
of  them  died.  For  ten  or  twelve  years  the  existence  of  the  colony 
was  uncertain,  and  several  times  the  enterprise  came  near  being 
abandoned  ; in  fact,  it  was  not  until  1619,  that  the  colony  was  con- 
sidered on  a Arm  basis  and  the  experiment  a success. 

Three  great  staples  were  found  by  the  English  among  the 
Indians  ; corn,  potatoes  and  tobacco  ; the  last  was  destined  soon  to 
revolutionize  the  commerce  of  the  world.  The  cultivation  of 
it  Avas  commenced  in  1612.  The  land  and  climate  were  found 
especially  adapted  to  the  plant.  As  a luxury  it  soon  began 
to  be  used,  not  only  in  England,  but  all  over  the  ciAnlized  world  ; 
there  soon  grew  to  be  a demand  for  all  that  could  be  raised,  at  re- 
munerative prices  ; in  fact,  it  soon  took  the  place  of  money  itself, 
as  the  currency  of  the  country.  As  a result,  the  Virginia  planter 
grew  rich  rapidly,  and  needed  all  the  labor  that  could  be  obtained 
to  cultiA^ate  the  great  staple. 

Thus  matters  progressed  in  the  colony  until  1619.  By  that 
time  the  venture  was  on  a Arm  basis  and  eA^erything  was  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  It  became  evident,  hoAveA^er,  that  some- 
thing was  lacking  to  make  it  a permanency  ; that  something  was 
Avoman.  Up  to  that  time  there  were  no  women  in  the  colony,  and 
the  happiness,  contentment  and  in  fact  the  perpetuity  of  the  colony 
itself,  demanded  that  the  men  should  hav^e  Avives. 

To  remedy  this  state  of  affairs  the  London  Company  during 
that  year  sent  over  ninety  young  Avomen.  Each  man  Avas  to  be 
permitted  to  select  a wife  by  paying  her  passage,  Avhich  was  fixed 
at  120  pounds  of  tobacco.  As  tobacco  was  at  that  time  selling  at 
three  shillings  per  pound,  equal  to  seAxnty-five  cents  in  the  pres- 
ent currency,  the  cost  Avas,  therefore,  890  for  a AA'ife.  History 
tells  us  the  voung  men  Avere  all  at  the  wharf  anxioush'  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  the  ship,  and  that  those  Avho  had  the  120  pounds  of 
tobacco  obtained  wives.  As  this  importation  occurred  sixteen 


* Xothing  remains  of  this  old  town  to-day  except  the  ruins. 


12 


A genp:alogical  history  of  the 


years  before  the  immigration  of  oar  forefathers,  it  can  not  be  said 
that  oiir  grandmothers  were  bought  and  paid  for  in  tobacco.  It 
was  not  long,  however,  before  many  young  women  came  over  of 
their  own  accord,  and  managed  to  pay  their  own  passage. 

The  year  1619  w^as  a memorable  one  in  the  history  of  the 
colony  of  Virginia.  The  great  profit  of  tobacco  planting  had 
caused  a tremendous  demand  for  labor.  In  the  colonial  records  of 
this  year  ^ve  find  the  following  entry  : “About  the  last  of 

August  came  in  a Dutch  man-of-war  and  sold  us  twenty  negars.” 
This  was  the  beginning  of  African  slavery  in  the  English  colony 
of  America. 

The  importation  of  slaves  from  the  western  coast  of  Africa  to 
the  West  India  islands  began  in  the  sixteenth  century  ;*  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  the  importation  to  the  colonies 
of  Virginia  was  considered  the  most  profitable  part  of  British 
commerce,  as  well  as  that  of  New  England.  At  that  time  every 
leading  nation  of  Europe  traded  in  negro  slaves.  No  one  con- 
demned the  traffic,  and  the  king  of  England  himself  derived  a 
large  part  of  his  revenue  from  this  source.  This  trade,  however, 
did  not  reach  its  greatest  proportions  until  the  first  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  At  this  time  the  planter  who  wished  to  sup- 
ply his  ])lantation  went  to  the  Atlantic  seaports,  there  met  the 
slave  ships  and  bought  such  slaves  as  he  wished  to  buy.  f 

The  slaves  imported  were  of  two  distinct  classes  or  tribes, 
and  differed  very  materially  in  their  physiognomies.  This  differ- 
ence can  yet  be  distinctly  seen  among  their  descendants,  especially 
among  the  negroes  of  the  Black  Belt  of  the  South.  There  were 
the  “Congo  negroes,”  with  features  approaching  the  European  ; 
thin  nose,  high  cheek  bone  and  thin  lips  ; they  were  much  more 
intelligent  than  the  others,  and  when  trained  became  intelligent 
and  valuable  slaves.  They  Avere  from  the  banks  of  the  Congo 
river,  in  the  interior  of  Central  Africa.  The  other  type  had 
thick  lips,  black  flat  noses  and  projecting  jaws.  These  were  from 
the  coast  of  Guinea  and  were  called  “Guinea  negroes”;  they  were 
far  inferior  to  the  other  tribe  in  point  of  intelligence,  but  pos- 
sessed great  powers  of  endurance,  and  from  their  docility  and 
tractability  were  more  valuable  as  plantation  slaves.  The  great 


* 156-3. 


t See  old  manuscript,  third  chapter. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHEK  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


13 


masses  of  both  classes,  however,  were  pagans  and  in  a condition 
of  the  grossest  barbarism,  but  little  superior  in  intelligence  to 
wild  animals.  The  value  of  negro  men,  as  shown  by  the  appraise- 
ments of  estates,  in  my  possession,  in  Virginia  at  this  period  (the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century),  was  from  £50  to  £70,  or  in 
the  present  currency  from  8250  to  8350,  and  of  women  from  8150 
to  8200. 

The  colonists  of  Virginia  were  agriculturists,  engaged  exclu- 
sively in  the  cultivation  of  tobacco.  They  were  not  a maritime 
people,  but  their  neighbors  up  at  Plymouth  Rock  were,  and  were 
ship-owners  and  ship-builders,  and  although  far  more  pious  and 
religious  than  their  Southern  brethren,  had  no  conscientious 
scruples  in  engaging  in  the  slave  trade  and  in  kidnapping  “negars” 
in  Africa,  bringing  them  to  America,  and  selling  them  to  the 
planters  of  Virginia  to  cultivate  tobacco. 

Our  ancestors  were  slaveholders  from  their  first  settlement  in 
Virginia — 1635 — until  the  red  tide  of  war  which  swept  over  the 
Southland  ended  at  Appomattox,  and  made  freemen  of  four 
million  slaves.  I have  no  apology  to  offer  for  them,  nor  do  they 
need  any.  They  and  their  descendants  have  always  been  a law 
abiding  people.  The  laws  of  England  protected  and  fostered 
slavery  in  the  colony  of  Virginia  ; the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  recognized  the  institution  and  protected  the  rights  of  the 
slaveholder  in  his  property.  While  aware  that  perhaps  the 
younger  generation,  those  born  since  the  great  civil  war,  look 
upon  the  institution  of  slavery  as  having  been  morally  wrong,  it  is 
because  they  little  understand  the  institution  as  it  existed  in 
the  South  ; they  know  nothing  of  the  regard,  solicitude  and  affec- 
tion of  the  master  for  his  inherited  slave,  or  the  slave  for  his  mas- 
ter. Born  on  the  same  plantation,  accustomed  to  enjoy  the  same 
sports  in  childhood,  there  was  a feeling  of  mutual  attachment  and 
affection  that  the  world  outside  of  the  South  has  never  understood. 
It  has  been  truly  said  : 

“Had  the  African  been  left  like  the  Indian  in  his  native 
wilds,  his  would  have  been  the  fate  of  the  Indian  ; but  by  the 
mysterious  providence  of  God  the  African  was  bound  to  the  car  of 
the  Anglo-American,  who  has  borne  him  along  with  him  in  his 
upward  course,  protecting  his  weakness  and  providing  for  his 


14 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


wants.  Accordingly  he  has  grown  with  our  growth  and  strength- 
ened with  our  strength  until  he  is  numbered  by  millions  instead  of 
scores.  In  the  meantime  the  black  man  has  been  trained  in  the 
habits,  manners  and  arts  of  civilization,  has  been  taught  the 
Christian  religion,  and  has  been  gradually  rising  in  intellectual 
and  moral  order,  until  he  is  far  above  his  race  in  his  native 
country.” 

“In  these  facts  we  see  the  traces  of  an  all- wise  Providence. 
Africa  gave  Virginia  a savage  and  a slave,  Virginia  gave  back  a 
civilized  man  and  a Christian.” 

It  is  not  necessary  to  discuss  this  subject  further.  The 
arbitrament  of  the  sword  which  struck  the  shackles  from  the 
negro  and  made  him  a free  man,  forever  settled  the  question  of 
negro  slavery  in  America.  It  left  the  black  man  still  in  his  native 
South,  where  he  is  destined  to  remain.  His  freedom,  however, 
has  left  unsettled  the  race  question,  one  of  vital  interest  to  both 
the  white  and  black  man.  What  will  be  the  hnal  result  of  this 
God  only  knows  and  the  future  can  only  reveal. 

For  a long  time  after  the  introduction  of  slavery  into  the 
colonies  the  increase  in  the  negro  population  was  very  slow.  As 
late  as  1673 — a half  a century — we  lind  the  population  of  the 
entire  colony  only  40,000  souls.  Of  these  32,000  were  white 
freemen,  6,000  indentured  white  servants  and  2,000  negro  slaves. 
Many  white  people  were  sent  over  from  England  to  be  bound  out, 
or  really  sold,  to  the  planters  for  a certain  luimber  of  years. 
Some  of  these  were  poor  young  men,  and  having  no  means  to  pay 
their  transportation,  bound  themselves  out  for  a number  of  years 
to  pay  their  passage,  either  to  the  London  Company  or  to  the 
ship  captains,  and  their  time  was  sold  to  the  planters.  In  other 
cases  poor  children  were  picked  up  in  the  streets  of  London  and 
sent  over  ; others  again  were  kidnapped  by  scoundrels  and  shipped 
off  on  board  the  vessels  and  sold  as  servants.  Later  on,  prisoners, 
taken  in  English  battles,  were  sent  over  and  sold.  Virginia  was 
never  a penal  colony,  as  has  been  charged,  although  at  one  time  a 
ship  load  of  criminals  was  actually  sent  over.  But  the  remon- 
strance from  the  colonists  was  so  strong  that  no  further  attempt 
was  made  to  unload  this  undesirable  class  on  the  young  colony. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES.  15 

The  people  thus  sent  over  were  called  apprentices,  indentured 
servants  and  redemptionists,  and  the  period  of  time  for , which  they 
were  compelled  to  work  for  their  masters  was  from  five  to  ten 
years.  Many  of  the  more  industrious  bought  their  time,  and  in 
after  years  themselves  became  planters  and  respected  citizens. 

In  1620  the  annual  product  of  tobacco  on  the  plantations  was 
only  40,000  pounds,  and  at  the  price  it  was  then  selling — three 
shillings,  or  about  seventy-five  cents  per  pound,  in  our  currency — 
the  crop  yielded  830,000.  The  value  of  the  tobacco  crop  raised 
in  the  United  States  in  1892  was  more  than  850,000,000,  and  this 
at  an  average  price  of  seven  cents  per  pound.  As  the  amount  of 
tobacco  produced  by  each  farm  hand  is  about  1,000  pounds,  and 
was  worth  in  1620  8750,  it  is  not  strange  that  these  old  planters, 
with  negroes  bought  at  8300  each,  and  redemptionists  (white  ser- 
vants), whose  services  were  paid  for  at  the  rate  of  830  to  850  per 
year,  soon  became  wealthy. 

The  condition  of  the  colonists  continued  to  improve  from 
1619  to  1635.  The  latter  year  is  one  memorable  in  the  history  of 
the  Chappell  family,  for  it  was  in  this  year  that  our  first  ancestor 
set  foot  on  American  soil — twenty- eight  years  after  the  first  set- 
tlement of  America  by  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  and  of  the  first  set- 
tlement of  the  colony  of  Virginia.  Certainly  we  have  the  right 
to  claim  the  distinction  of  having  descended  from  one  of  the 
“first  families  of  Virginia,”  first  at  least  in  point  of  time. 


16 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  II. 


Origin  of  the  Chappell  Family  — Characteristics — The 

Family  in  England — Immigration  to  America  in  1635 — 

The  Chappells  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia. 

There  has  long  been  an  impression  that  the  Chappell  family 
was  of  French  extraction,  and  it  has  been  supposed  that  we  w^ere 
descended  from  the  Huguenots,  who  left  France  during  the 
reign  of  Louis  XIV,  to  escape  religious  persecution,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  great  numbers,  locating  in  Georgia,  the  Carolinas, 
and  some  finding  homes  in  Virginia.  That  this  has  been  an 
erroneous  belief  there  can  be  no  question,  for  this  immigration 
began  in  1685,  fully  fifty  years  after  our  forefathers  came  over 
and  settled  in  Virginia.  It  is  possible  that  the  impression  that 
we  were  of  French  descent  came  from  the  name  itself.  The  name 
“Chappie”  and  “Chappelle” — with  a final  “e” — are  French  names, 
and  mean  a church  or  place  of  worship,  as  does  the  English  word 
“Chapel,”  but  the  name  “Chappell,”  spelled  as  we  spell  it,  and  as 
it  has  been  spelled  for  nearly  four  centuries,  is  an  English  name, 
and  the  people  from  whom  we  are  descended  were  of  pure  English 
stock,  with  no  intermixture  with  the  blood  of  any  other  nation- 
ality. In  proof  of  this  fact  incontrovertible  evidence  in  abundance 
will  be  found  in  these  pages.  And  there  is  but  little  doubt  that 
every  man  in  the  United  States  bearing  the  name,  and  spelling  it 
as  we  do,  is  of  the  same  original  stock  in  the  mother  country, 
however  remote  may  be  that  connection  or  difficult  now  to  trace. 

The  name  “Chappell”  was  not  an  uncommon  one  in  England 
as  far  back  as  the  sixteenth  century  ; nor  is  it  an  uncommon  one 
to-day.  The  family  was  numerously  represented  between  1500 
and  1600  in  Northamptonshire,  Rutland  and  Nottinghamshire. 
No  attempt,  however,  has  been  made  to  trace  the  family  history 
across  the  water,  nor  to  connect  the  family  in  the  New  World 
with  that  in  England.  It  is  not  improbable  that  our  ancestors 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHEE  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


17 


went  originally  to  England  from  France,  but  if  so,  it  is  more 
probable  that  they  went  over  with  William  the  Conqueror  from 
Normandy  in  1066,  or  they  may  have  been  of  that  rough  and 
sturdy  band  of  invaders  who  came  from  the  north — the  Saxons — 
in  the  fifth  century,  and  overran  the  country  and  conquered  the 
Britons.  All  theories  on  this  subject  are  only  surmises  and  con- 
jecture, for  as  a matter  of  fact  all  that  we  now  know,  or  will  ever 
know,  is  that  we  are  all  descended  from  an  old  English  stock  of 
people  who  were  well  represented  in  that  country  as  far  back  as 
four  centuries  ago,  or  at  the  time  that  this  country  was  discovered 
by  Columbus. 

In  consideration  of  the  feelings  and  social  pride  of  the 
younger  generations  of  the  family,  I regret  in  the  interest  of  the 
truth  of  history  to  be  compelled  to  explode  the  favorite  theory  of 
a French  extraction.  But  our  forefathers  were  not  among  the 
followers  of  Henry  of  Navarre  ; we  can  not  claim  a final  “e”  to  the 
name,  nor  to  accent  it  on  the  last  syllable  ; nor  that  there  is  a 
drop  of  French  blood  in  our  veins. 

Neither  can  we  claim  any  connection  with  the  nobility  of 
England,  for  if  we  ever  had  any  hereditary  title  or  coat-of-arms 
it  is  not  now  known.  We  sprang  from  the  plain  yeomanry  of 
England,  that  great  middle  class,  which  in  morality,  intelligence 
and  true  manhood  is  far  superior  to  the  effete  aristocracy,  whose 
minds  and  bodies  have  become  enfeebled  by  centuries  of  idleness, 
dissipation  and  debauchery. 

From  its  earliest  settlement  in  the  tide- water  part  of  Vir- 
ginia, ours  has  been  distinctively  a Southern  family.  Wherever 
its  sturdy  sons  have  found  homes,  in  the  wider  fields  open  to  civ- 
ilization, it  has  been  in  that  part  of  the  country  south  of  Mason 
and  Dixon’s  line,  or  in  the  border  states.  But  few  members  of 
the  family,  and  certainly  no  branch,  has  ever  permanently  located 
in  the  Northern  states.  They  have  been  generally  a family  of 
pioneers,  never  remaining  in  one  locality  more  than  two  or  three 
generations,  but  with  commendable  energy  and  enterprise  pushing 
South  and  West,  as  the  tide  of  emigration  flowed,  and  as  newer  and 
more  fertile  countries  were  opened  to  settlement. 

They  have  been  a brave,  patriotic  and  chivalric  people,  ever 
ready  to  bear  their  just  part  in  the  hardships  and  requirements  of 


18 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  governments  under  which  they  have  lived,  and  ever  ready  to 
respond  to  the  call  to  arms,  when  necessary  to  defend  the  rights 
of  their  country. 

From  the  long  lapse  of  time,  we  necessarily  know  but  little 
of  the  traditions  of  our  ancestors  previous  to  the  Revolutionary 
War.  History  tells  us  of  the  continuous  conflicts  with  the  Indians 
in  Virginia  from  the  days  of  Powhattan  to  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  even  after  that  time.  Doubtless  our  ancestors,  as  loyal 
citizens,  took  part  in  these  Indian  wars,  as  the  red  man  was 
driven  back  to  make  way  for  his  pale-faced  brother.  One  of  our 
forefathers,  (Thomas  Chappell,)  was  an  Indian  trader  in  Petersburg, 
Va.,  in  1725.  Among  the  household  effects  belonging  to  my 
great-grandfather  (John  Chappell  of  Amelia  county),  inventoried 
at  his  death  in  1774,  was  a small  armory  of  guns  and  bayonets;  as 
this  was  before  the  Revolution,  the  presence  of  these  bayonets 
would  indicate  that  the  guns  were  used  for  war,  and  not  solely  for 
that  of  the  sportsman.  I found  in  the  company  roll  of  Captain 
Robert  McKenzie’s  company  of  Virginia  the  name  of  Edward 
Chappell,  a soldier  in  the  Indian  and  French  war,  previous  to  the 
Revolution.  No  date  is  given  and  no  clue  to  his  identity,  except 
that  he  was  23  years  old  and  from  Henrico  county,  Va. 

In  the  great  struggle  for  American  Independence  in  1776,  our 
ancestors  took  a prominent  part  and  furnished  their  full  quota  to 
the  armies  of  the  colonists.  There  were  John  and  James  Chap- 
pell, ( brothers,)  of  Amelia,  Robert  of  Dinwiddie,  Capt.  Robin 
Chappell,  ( a brother  of  my  grandfather,)  Benjamin  Chappell,  of 
Dinwiddie,  whose  connection  with  the  family  is  not  positively 
known,  Samuel  Chappell  of  North  Carolina  and  Major  Hix  and  his 
brother  Laban,  of  South  Carolina.  All  of  whom  are  known  to 
have  been  in  the  army.  In  the  Adams  family  there  was  “ Uncle 
Billy  Adams,”  as  he  was  called,  my  grandfather  Adams’  oldest 
brother,  and  John  Adams,  a younger  brother  ; both  of  whom  were 
soldiers  of  the  Revolution.  Coming  down  to  the  second  war  with 
Great  Britain,  in  1812,  there  will  be  found  the  names  of  several 
members  of  the  family  who  took  up  arms  in  that  conflict,  some  of 
whom  were  killed  in  battle. 

I would  be  glad  to  forever  blot  from  my  mind  every  sad  mem- 
ory connected  with  the  next  conflict  in  which  our  kindred  were 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


19 


participants.  I refer  to  the  great  civil  war  of  1861,  the  culmina- 
tion of  the  “ Irrepressible  Conflict,”  which,  like  a small  cloud  in 
the  horizon,  had  been  gathering  and  gradually  approaching  for  so 
many  years.  Born  in  the  South,  a part  of  its  history  from  the  very 
beginning  of  American  civilization,  with  their  traditions,  interests 
and  associations  and  all  that  men  hold  most  dear,  identifled  with 
that  section,  it  is  not  surprising,  that  when  the  cloud  burst,  our 
family,  without  an  exception,  as  far  as  I know,  sympathized  with 
the  land  of  their  nativity,  and,  where  practicable,  bared  their 
breasts  to  the  storm,  and  drew  their  swords  in  defense  of  their 
homes  and  firesides.  It  would  not  be  possible  to  mention  here  the 
names  of  all  the  members  of  these  old  families  who  entered  the 
ranks  of  the  Confederate  States  Army, — they  were  numbered  by 
the  hundreds;  nor  even  the  names  of  those  who  laid  down  their 
lives  on  the  battlefields  of  that  terrible  conflict.  The  entry,  “killed 
in  the  C.  S.  Army,”  will  become  a familiar  one  to  the  reader  who 
peruses  this  little  volume  to  the  end.  The  names  of  these  honored 
and  brave  young  men  will  be  found,  many  of  them,  on  these 
pages, — they,  wTose  bodies  fill  unknown  graves  on  the  battlefields 
around  Richmond,  and  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  There 
were  branches  of  the  family,  especially  in  Virginia,  Georgia  and 
South  Carolina,  that  became  annihilated,  every  male  member  capa- 
ble of  bearing  arms,  being  killed.  One  half  the  members  of  the 
first  company  raised  in  Laurens  county.  South  Carolina,  it  is  said, 
were  descendants  of  our  venerated  relative,  Susannah  Dickie. 
The  loyalty  of  the  women  of  the  family  to  the  Southern  Cause,  their 
bravery,  fortitude  and  self-sacrificing  devotion,  can  never  be  ap- 
preciated or  understood  by  their  descendants. 

Physically,  ours  has  been  a strong  and  robust  race.  For  more 
than  two  centuries  a family  of  pioneers,  always  in  the  front  rank 
of  advancing  civilization,  driving  back  the  Indians,  clearing  new 
farms,  then  moving  further  west,  they  have  lived  an  out-of-door 
life,  and  in  many  cases,  doubtless,  lives  of  hardship  and  privation. 
But  whether  engaged  in  planting  tobacco  in  Virginia,  Kentucky 
and  Missouri,  or  cotton  in  Georgia,  Tennessee  and  South 
Carolina,  or  in  ranching  on  the  prairies  of  Texas,  we  find  them 
living  in  the  country.  Agriculture  has  been,  from  the  first  settle- 


20 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


merit  of  tbe  family  in  Amei’ica,  the  favorite  pursuit,  and  the  culti- 
vation of  tobacco  the  great  specialty.  For  generation  after  gener- 
ation, in  the  olden  times,  and  in  fact,  from  1635  to  1860,  it  seems 
to  have  been  the  custom  to  engage  for  a livlihood,  in  tobacco 
planting — always  a pi-ofitable  crop.  By  the  time  the  father  had 
lived  out  his  days,  he  had  accumulated  an  estate  in  lands  and  ne- 
groes sufficient  to  give  to  each  child  a farm  and  a few  negroes, 
adequate  for  a start  in  life.  The  son  began  life  the  same  way,  lived 
the  life  his  father  had  lived,  died,  and  left  to  each  of  his  children 
a plantation  and  negroes.  The  old  wills  in  my  possession,  copied 
from  the  records  in  Virginia — and  I have  many  of  them — estab- 
lish this  as  having  been  the  almost  universal  custom.  They  doubt- 
less lived  industrious,  frugal  lives,  never  becoming  very  rich,  but 
always  lived  well  and  died  leaving  valuable  estates.  There  was 
no  speculation  and  no  bankruptcy  among  them.  This  has  been  the 
history  of  the  family  for  six  or  seven  generations.  The  ideal  life 
in  the  South  in  ante-helluyn  days,  was  that  of  the  planter,  and  the 
Virginian  planter  was  a born  gentleman. 

In  the  colonial  days  and  even  at  a subsequent  period,  there 
were  few  professional  men  in  Virginia  ; there  were  fewer  still 
among  the  older  generations  of  Chappells.  In  later  generations, 
and  especially  since  the  civil  war,  many  have  entered  the  profes- 
sions and  have  arisen  to  prominence  in  the  legislative  halls  of  the 
different  states  in  which  they  have  lived  ; others  have  entered  the 
more  complicated  and  difficult  channels  of  commerce  and  finance; 
especially  has  this  been  true  of  the  branches  that  have  intermarried 
with  the  Dickies;  for  the  Scotch,  to  which  nationality  this  family 
belonged,  have  always  been  a commercial  race,  and  the  descendants 
of  the  Chappell-Dickie  marriages  have,  in  many  instances,  become 
successful  business  men,  distinguished  for  their  energy,  integrity 
and  intelligence. 

The  family  has  been  remarkable  for  the  longevity  of  its  mem- 
bers. Many  have  lived  out  their  “ three  score  years  and  ten  ” and 
not  a few  lived  to  become  octagenarians.  I think  there  are  but 
few  families  that  have  had  among  their  numbers  so  many  very  old- 
people.  Naturally  a strong  and  robust  race,  the  family  has  been 
a prolific  one,  and  their  descendants  are  now  numbered  by  the 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


21 


hundreds,  if  not  tbousauds.  It  is  certainly  very  clear  that  they 
have  obeyed  one  well  known  Scriptural  injunction. 

As  I have  known  the  Chappells,  there  are  two  distinct  physical 
types.  One  is  tall  and  spare,  having  dark  hair,  eyes  and  complex- 
ions, and  never,  even  in  old  age,  becoming  corpulent.  It  possesses 
a wonderful  amount  of  energy,  industry  and  physical  endurance, 
and  is  a splendid  type  of  man  and  womanhood.  Its  members  are 
cjenerallv  lono-  lived.  The  other  has  fair  skins,  blue  eves  and  light 
hair.  It  is  equally  as  intelligent  as  the  former,  and  its  members 
equally  as  handsome,  but  it  has  not  the  same  energy  and  powers  of 
endurance,  nor  has  it  the  longevity  or  strong  physique.  I have 
imagined  the  former  to  be  the  true  Chappell  type,  of  English  blood, 
and  that  those  who  are  blondes  derive  their  fair  skins,  blue  eyes 
and  light  hair  from  the  intermixture  of  the  blood  of  some  other 
nationality  ; in  the  Missouri  and  Tennessee  branches,  I have  no 
doubt  it  has  been  transmitted  from  our  Scotch  ancestry,  for  I have 
seen  brothers  and  sisters,  of  full  blood,  of  the  two  directly  oppo- 
site types.  There  is  probably  nothing  in  the  entire  realm  of  science 
more  interesting  to  the  observant  man  than  the  laws  of  heredity. 
That  we  inherit  not  only  the  physical  characteristics,  but  the  men- 
tal and  moral  traits  of  our  progenitors,  there  can  be  no  question. 

The  family  has  been  remarkable,  not  only  for  its  longevity, 
but  for  its  healthfulness  and  freedom  from  hereditary  disease  and 
infirmities  of  mind  or  body.  So  far  as  I have  been  able  to  learn, 
there  has  been  no  insanity,  imbecility,  deformity  or  idiocy  in  any 
branch  of  the  family,  nor  have  there  been  any  of  those  hereditary 
misfortunes  which  are  a curse  to  humanity  and  follow  down  one 
generation  after  another,  entailing  sorrow  and  misery  on  children 
of  unfortunate  parents. 

Physically  and  mentally  a strong,  robust  people,  morally  they 
have  been  fully  up  to  the  standard  of  Southern  families — the 
highest  type  of  moral  and  religious  citizenship.  There  have  been 
been  no  criminals  among  us,  and  in  all  of  my  researches,  in  every 
branch  of  the  family,  and  I refer  not  alone  to  the  Chappells  but  to 
the  other  families  related  by  marriage  or  blood,  I have  heard  of  no 
case  of  any  man’s  having  committed  a crime,  or  woman  having 
strayed  from  the  path  of  virtue.  Black  sheep  there  may  have  been, 
but  if  so,  their  names  have  been  stricken  from  the  family  records, 


22 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  they  have  been  forgotten,  as  they  deserved  to  be.  No  man 
has  yet  brought  disgrace  on  his  family' name.  Many  have  sulfered 
the  misfortunes  of  poverty  ; especially  has  this  been  true  during 
and  since  the  war.  Of  the  South,  and  in  the  South,  it  has  been 
the  fate  of  many  to  sulfer  the  ills  that  befell  that  unfortunate  sec- 
tion, but  the  family  escutcheon  has  been  preserved  untarnished, 
and  the  family  name  without  reproach.  Many  of  the  family  have 
been  wild  in  their  youth,  dissipated  and  reckless;  perhaps  excep- 
tionally so,  but  this  is  a misfortune  growing  out  of  the  peculiar 
social  relations  of  the  South.  After  ‘‘sowing  a liberal  crop  of 
wild  oats,”  they  have  “generally  rounded  to,”  and  become  moral, 
upright  citizens,  and  frequently  zealous  Christians,  for  in  every 
branch  of  the  family  there  has  always  prevailed  a strong  religious 
tendency  underlying  sometimes  what  seems  reckless  lives,  which 
develops  sooner  or  later  ; for  there  are  no  infidels  or  atheists 
among  our  members.  Perhaps  no  family  of  the  number  has  had 
so  many  zealous  Christian  men  and  women  as  has  ours. 

The  family  has  been  a religious  one  since  its  first  settlement 
in  the  colony  of  Virginia.  During  the  colonial  period,  there  was  but 
one  recognized  religious  faith  or  church  ; this  w^as  the  Established 
Church  of  England.  Our  forefathers  were  zealous  members  of  that 
churchj  and  their  names  are  numerously  found  in  the  parish  registers 
of  the  old  counties.  In  the  original  Register  of  Albemarle  Parish 
( Surry  and  Sussex  counties ) yet  jireserved  in  the  Virginia  Histor- 
ical Society,  are  found  the  names  of  James,  Elizabeth,  John,  Re- 
becca, Robert,  Samuel  and  Thomas  Chappell,  and  many  others, 
who  were,  doubtless,  members  of  this  Parish,  the  dates  of  these 
entries  of  marriages,  births  and  deaths,  extend  from  1739  to  1772. 
At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  W'ar,  the  Methodist  Church 
first  established  a foothold  in  America;  this  was  about  1790.  Our 
ancestors  at  once  adopted  this  as  the  denomination  representing 
their  religious  faith,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  the  favorite  church 
in  most  branches  of  the  family  to  this  day,  although  many  have 
become  connected  wdth  other  Protestant  denominations. 

In  every  generation  w^e  have  been  a God-fearing,  religious 
people,  with  brains  and  energy  enough  to  take  care  of  ourselves 
in  any  emergency.  This  has  been  the  history  of  the  family  as  I 
have  learned  it,  not  only  from  tradition,  but  from  the  facts  as 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIKDRED  FAMILIES. 


23 


shown  by  the  old  records,  yet  preserved  in  Virginia.  It  is  a 
history  of  which  we  may  all  feel  proud  and  which  should  deter- 
mine every  son  aud  daughter  to  live  an  upright,  honest  and  honor- 
able life,  that  the  name,  so  long  without  reproach,  may  be  thus 
transmitted  to  posterity. 

IMMIGRATION  TO  AMERICA. 

During  the  seventeenth  and  a part  of  the  eighteenth  centuries 
a record  was  kept,  under  the  direction  of  the  government,  at  all 
ports  of  entry  on  the  English  seacoast,  of  emigrants  to  the  colonies 
in  America  ; and  every  English  subject,  before  embarking,  was 
required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King  and  the  Estab- 
lished Church.  These  records  have  been  preserved,  and  from  them 
has  been  compiled,  by  John  C.  Hotten,  a list  of  emigrants  to 
America  from  1607  to  1700.  In  this  list  appears  the  names  of 
seven  persons  named  “ Chappell,”  who  sailed  from  England 
between  1634  and  1685.  Their  names  appear  in  the  following 
order : 

1.  “George  Chappell,  embarked  on  March  16,  1634,  in  the 
barque  ‘ Joseph  White,’  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance.  He 
sailed  for  the  colony  in  Xew  England.” 

2.  “ Capt.  John  Chappell,  of  London,  commander  of  the  ship 
‘ Speedwell,’  sailed  May*  28,  1635,  from  Southampton,  with  60 
passengers — 49  men  and  11  women — for  the  colony  of  Virginia.” 

3.  “ Thomas  Chappell,  age  23,  sailed  on  the  ship  ‘ America,’ 
June  23,  1635,  Captain  William  Barker,  from  Gravesend,  Eng- 
land, for  the  colony  of  Virginia.  Took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  King  and  Established  Church.” 

4.  “John  Chappell,  aged  38,  sailed  on  the  ship  ‘Assur- 
ance,’ July  24,  1635,  from  England  to  the  Colony  in  Virginia.” 

5.  “John  Chappell,  of  Petherton  (rebel),  transported  as  a 
military  prisoner  January  9,  1685,  from  England  to  the  Island  of 
Barbadoes.”  The  records  show  that  he  was  released  in  February 
of  the  same  year  and  embarked  from  the  Island  of  Barbadoes  for 
America,  but  to  what  port  is  not  stated.  If  the  reader  will  ex- 


* Spelled,  originally,  “Mai.” 


24 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OP  THE 


amine  a map  be  will  see,  in  the  South  Atlantic  Ocean,  not  far 
from  the  coast  of  Brazil,  in  the  Carribean  Sea,  and  east  of  the 
Antilles,  a small  dot,  marked  “ Island  of  Barbadoes.”  This  was 
a British  penal  colony  at  that  time,  and  it  was  to  this  island,  so 
far  away  from  friends  and  country,  that  our  namesake  was  ban- 
ished. He  was,  doubtless,  engaged  in  one  of  the  domestic  wars, 
many  of  which  occurred  in  England  during  this  period.  As  usual 
with  the  Chappells,  he  was  a “ rebel.” 

We  have  besides  these,  accounts  of  one  Jonah  Chappell,  who 
sailed  from  England  in  1668,  and  of  one  Joshua  Chappell,  wlio 
sailed  in  1678.  Both  of  these,  however,  are  said  to  have  died 
before  reaching  the  coast  of  America. 

In  my  researches  I have  found  no  less  than  three  different  and 
distinct  families  of  Chappells  in  this  country,  who  spell  the  name 
as  we  do,  but  who  are  believed  to  be  in  no  way  related  to  or  de- 
scended from  our  Virginia  family  ; although  all  are  of  English 
descent,  and  doubtless  of  the  same  stock,  originally,  as  that  from 
which  we  sprang.  Besides  these,  there  are  three  or  four  families, 
of  whom  I have  account,  of  French  extraction  ; these,  however, 
are  an  entirely  distinct  people,  and  spell  the  name  differently  from 
the  way  we  spell  ours. 

First,  there  is  the  New  England  family  of  Chappells,  whose 
ancestor  may  have  been  George  Chappell,  who  came  to  the 
Northern  colony  in  1634.  I have  a copy  of  their  genealogy,  fur- 
nished me  by  J.  Chappell  Clark,  of  Indianola,  Iowa.  Their  tra- 
dition is  that  their  ancestors  went  from  France  to  Wales,  from 
there  to  England  and  from  the  latter  country  came  to  America  at 
the  beginning  of  the  17th  century.  Their  genealogy  goes  back 
to  1710  and  we  find  in  it  many  old  New  England  names,  such  as 
Caleb,  Joshua,  Julius,  Amos  and  Roger,  but  nowhere  are  found 
our  family  names,  John,  Robert,  Thomas  and  Samuel.  Many  of 
this  family  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  settled 
originally  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.*  The  family  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  New  England  States,  of  great  respectability, 
and  has  produced  many  men  of  prominence  and  worth  in  this 

* For  genealogical  matter  as  to  the  Northern  family  of  Chappells,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
Savage’s  Genealogical  Dictionary,  vol.  1,  p.  363;  Loomis’s  General  Female  Branches,  pp.  816- 
817:  Hinman’s  Connecticut  Settlers,  pp.  546-548;  Hines’  New  London,  Conn.,  p.  1.50  and 
Caulkin’s  History  of  Connecticut,  p.  32.5. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHEE  KINDEED  FAMILIES. 


25 


country,  several  of  whom  I have  known  personally.  While  there 
is  hut  little  doubt  that  the  New  England  and  Virginia  families 
sprang  from  the  same  ancestry,  and  that  their  forefathers  came  to 
America  about  the  same  time,  a long  residence  of  260  years  in  this 
country  has  separated  them  widely  in  their  habits,  customs  and 
methods  of  thought.  One  is  a typical  New  England  family,  the 
other  a typical  Southern,  but  each  represents  the  best  type  of 
their  respective  sections. 

There  is  another  family  of  Chappells  who  originally  located 
in  Maryland,  and  some  of  whose  descendants  now  reside  in  Balti- 
more. Like  the  Virginia  branch  it  is  an  old  Southern  family  and 
its  immigrant  ancestor  was  born  in  London  in  1791,  and  came  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Maryland  at  the  beginning  of  this  cen- 
tury. As  early  as  1850,  two  members  of  this  family,  John  T.  and 
William  H.  Chappell,  immigrated  to  Missouri  and  located  in  St. 
Louis.  The  former  died  in  1874,  the  latter  is  still  living  in 
Chicago.  He  has  a brother,  Edwin  F.,  living  in  St.  Louis,  and 
had  another  brother — Philip  S. — now  dead,  who  was  a banker  in 
Baltimore.  John  T.  Chappell  had  a brother  William  who  was  a 
colonel  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Prairie  Grove,  Ark.  He  left  a son,  W.  G.  Chappell,  who  now 
lives  in  St  Louis. 

The  other  family  of  Chappells,  to  whom  I have  referred,  is 
connected  with  a Georgia  family  of  French  extraction,  who  spell 
the  name  “Chappie.”  They  are  represented  by  Hon.  Robert 
Chappie  of  Athens,  Ga.,  and  as  their  history  is  rather  romantic  I 
wdll  give  it  in  the  language  of  Mr.  Chappie.  He  says  : 

“My  great' grandfather  was  a soldier  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte, 
and  a Frenchman.  His  name  was  Henry  de  la  Chappie.  He  was 
captured  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo  and  thrown  into  an  English 
prison  at  Dartmore,  in  the  county  of  Devonshire.  After  peace 
was  declared  he  was  released  and  became  acquainted  in  the  same 
town  with  an  English  family  named  “Chappell.”  A son  of  his, 
whose  name  was  William,  and  who  was  my  grandfather,  married 
a daughter  of  this  family,  whose  name  was  Mildred  Chappell. 
They  lived  to  be  verv  old,  and  had  twenty-one  children,  eighteen 
of  whom  lived  to  maturity.  My  grandfather  was  in  the  battle 
of  Trafalgar  with  Nelson,  and  was  wounded  in  that  engagement. 

-3 


26 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


My  father,  whose  name  was  John,  emioratecl  to  America  and 
settled  in  Georgia  in  1853,  and  died  in  1872.  I had  a brother 
Thomas  who  emigrated  to  California  and  died  there. 

“Now  to  return  to  the  English  family  of  Chappells,  my  rela- 
tives on  my  grandmother’s  side.  Two  sons  removed  to  London 
and  five  came  to  this  country.  Of  the  latter,  two  located  in  Balti- 
more, two  in  Strausburgh,  Va.,  and  one  in  Petersburg.  I have  but 
one  son.  Dr.  John  A.  Chappie  of  Atlanta,  Ga.” 

A monument  should  be  erected  to  the  memory  of  this  good 
old  woman,  Mildred  Chappell,  for  she  certainly  did  her  part  to 
perpetuate  her  name,  not  only  in  the  old  but  also  in  the  new 
world.  Napoleon  was  once  asked  by  Madame  De  Stael  whom  he 
considered  the  greatest  woman  that  ever  lived.  His  reply  was  : 
‘‘She  who  has  borne  the  most  children  !”  By  this  test  she  would 
certainly  have  ranked  with  the  greatest  of  her  sex. 

There  is  still  another  family  of  “Chappies”  who  formerly  lived 
in  Georgia,  and  some  of  whom  may  still  reside  in  that  state. 
Their  immigrant  ancestor,  whose  name  is  unknown,  is  said  to 
have  been  a French  soldier,  and  to  have  come  to  Georgia  at  an 
early  day  from  South  America.  He  had  a son  who  lived  and 
died  in  that  state  many  years  ago,  Dr.  Newton  Chappie.  Hon. 
F.  N.  Judson,  a prominent  member  of  the  St.  Louis  bar,  is  a 
grandson  of  Dr.  Newton  Chappie. 

There  are  other  families  of  “Chappies”  and  “Chapelles”  of 
whom  I have  heard,  but  it  is  unnecessary  to  refer  to  them.  One 
was  a distinguished  and  prominent  Catholic  bishop,  who  lived 
some  years  ago  in  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.  It  is  evident  that  those  who 
spell  the  name  “Chappie”  are  of  French  descent,  and  those  who 
spell  it  “Chappell”  are  of  English  origin. 

The  history  of  the  Chappell  family  of  Virginia,  from  whom 
all  are  descended  whose  histories  or  genealogies  are  given  here,  is 
somewhat  clouded  with  doubt  and  uncertainty  for  the  first  eighty- 
five  years  after  the  immigration  of  our  first  ancestor,  (1635  to  1720). 
This  period  may  properly  be  called  the  “dark  age”  in  our  family 
history.  It  is  a well  known  historical  fact,  that  the  eastern  part 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  where  our  ancestors  lived  pre- 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHEE  KIXDEED  FAMILIES.  2 i 

vious  to  1746,  has  been  three  times  devastated  and  ravished  by  in- 
vadiuo-  armies  : first  in  1776  ; then  in  1812  ; and  again  in  1861. 
During  these  terrible  conflicts  all  kinds  of  property  were 
destroyed,  and  even  the  old  court  houses,  many  of  tliem  built  in 
the  colonial  days,  did  not  escape  the  red  torch  of  the  wanton  de- 
strover.  With  them  were  burned  the  records,  and  in  many  cases 
not  a vestige  was  left  of  these  old  treasures,  which  would  be  val- 
uable now  for  their  antiquity  if  for  nothing  else. 

Hence  it  is  that  only  a few  fragments  can  now  be  found  of  the 
recorded  history  of  our  forefathers  during  this  early  period.  An 
old  will  here,  an  old  deed  there,  snatched  from  the  flames  or  re- 
covered from  those  who  had  purloined  them  ; the  land  books  at 
Richmond,  which  fortunately  are  preserved  entire  from  1619  to 
the  present  time,  and  the  parish  registers  of  some  of  the  older 
counties,  are  all  that  are  left  us,  from  which  may  be  gleaned  the 
early  history  of  our  ancestors  in  Virginia. 

From  this  unsatisfactory  evidence,  or  rather  from  the  absence 
of  reliable  data,  it  is  impossible  to  establish  with  any  degree  of 
absolute  certainty  the  line  of  descent  from  one  generation  to  an- 
other of  any  branch  of  the  family  during  this  period.  The  genea- 
logical descent  as  adopted  here  is  believed  by  those  who  have 
given  the  subject  much  thought  and  the  closest  investigation,  to 
be  correct.  It  is  certainly  the  most  plausible. 

Our  ancestors,  on  coming  to  America  in  1635,  settled  near 
Jamestown,  at  the  mouth  of  James  River.  They  continued  to 
reside  in  the  tide-water  part  of  the  state,  in  the  counties  of  War- 
wick, Surry,  Sussex,  Charles  City,  Prince  George  and  Dinwiddie, 
all  of  which  adjoin  one  to  another,  gradually  moving  back  from 
the  sea-coast,  as  the  country  became  settled,  until  1746,  when 
those  from  whom  we  are  descended  removed  from  Prince  George 
to  Amelia  county.  Many  of  the  other  branches  continued  to  re- 
main in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  and  some  emigrated  to 
Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,  years  before  the  American  Revolution. 

The  name  Chappell  is  not  unknown  in  English  history.  In 
the  first  part  of  the  seventeenth  century  one  William  Chappell 
was  Bishop*  of  Cork,  Ireland.  He  was  born  in  1582,  published  a 


^ Bishop  of  the  Church  of  Euglaud. 


28 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE 


book  called  “Method us  Concionaiidi”  in  1648,  and  died  May  13, 
1649.  He  lived  at  Nottinghamshire,  and  was  at  one  time  John 
Milton’s  tutor  at  Cambridge.  He  had  a younger  brother  whose 
name  was  John,  who  died  before  him  and  was  buried  at  Mans- 
held  and  ieft  a family.  The  father  of  these  sons  was  named 
Robert  Chappell.  From  these  well  known  family  names,  and  from 
the  dates,  it  is  not  improbable  that  Captain  John  Chappell  of  the 
ship  ‘‘Speedwell,”  was  the  John  Chappell,  son  of  Robert. 

Captain  John  Chappell,  who,  there  is  good  reason  to  believe, 
was  our  hrst  ancestor  to  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  America,  was  no 
ordinary  man.  That  he  was  a man  of  intelligence,  energy,  cour- 
age and  a skillful  navigator  there  can  be  no  question ; none  other 
would  have  been  entrusted  with  the  lives  of  his  passengers  on  so 
perilous  a voyage,  for  there  were  no  charts  in  that  day  to  guide 
the  daring  mariner  across  the  trackless  Atlantic.  We  know 
nothing  of  the  old  skipper  except  that  he  sailed  from  Southamp- 
ton for  the  mouth  of  James  River  and  cleared  on  May  28,  1635. 
His  vessel,  however,  has  a place  in  history.  In  the  history  of  the 
early  settlement  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth  Rock  in  1620  we 
find  the  following  account : 

“The  Pilgrims  sailed  from  Delfshaven,  Holland,  the  last  of 
July,  1620,  in  the  ‘Speedwell’  for  Southampton,  England,  where 
the  Mayflower  was  waiting.  On  August  5,  both  vessels  sailed 
for  America  with  about  120  passengers.*  Twice  the  ‘Speedwell’ 
put  back  in  a leaky  condition.  Finally,  on  September  16,  the 
Mayflower  sailed  alone  from  Plymouth,  England,  on  her  mem- 
orable voyage.” 

I regret  that  we  have  no  description  of  this  ship,  but  we  have 
of  other  vessels  sailing  in  the  same  trade  at  the  same  time,  and 
doubtless  similar  in  construction  and  size.  She  was  probably 
about  ninety  feet  over  all,  twenty-five  foot  beam,  and  ninety  tons 
displacement,  a lubberly,  clumsy  schooner  or  brig,  not  uulike  in 
appearance  to  the  Spanish  caravels,  seen  in  Chicago  in  1893,  and 
which  were  counterparts  of  the  ships  in  which  Columbus  crossed 
the  Atlantic.  ^ 

* This  would  give  sixty  people  to  each  ship,  the  same  number  that  shipped  on  her  in  her 
voyage  to  Virginia  in  1635. 


29 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 

History  records  no  other  voyage  made  to  the  colony  of  Vir- 
ginia by  Captain  Chappell,  nor  is  there  auy  evidence  that  he  ever 
permanently  settled  in  America.  He  probably  returned  to 
England  and  died  there. 

Thomas  Chappell,  who  has  been  referred  to  as  having  sailed 
for  the  colony  of  Virginia  on  June  23,  1635,  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  son  of  the  old  sea  captain  and  our  first  ancestor  to  settle 
permanently  in  this  country.  He  was  but  23  years  old, and  must  have 
been  a daring  young  adventurer  to  have  embarked  on  so  perilous 
a voyage.  He  settled  at  the  mouth  of  James  River,  and  the  first 
and  only  account  we  find  of  him  in  the  colony  is  in  the  records, 
partly  preserved,  of  Charles  City  county,  which  was  one 
of  the  original  shires  of  the  colony  and  was  organized  in  1634. 
The  court  house  was  burned,  but  a part  of  the  records  were  saved, 
and  among  them  this  old  fragment,  which,  from  its  antiquity, 
aside  from  the  fact  of  its  being  the  first  Chappell  record  in  Amer- 
ica, is  interesting.  I transcribe  it  verbatim.  The  language  is  of 
the  olden  time,  many  of  the  words  now  obsolete,  and  ‘Ve*’  used 
for  ‘4he*h 

‘‘Att  a Cor’t  holden  at  AVestover  April  9,  1661,  Thomas 
Chappell  acknowledgeth  in  Cor’t  to  have  received  of  James 
Wallis  who  married  ye  relict  of  Lt.  John  Banister  dec’d,  one 
Legacy  given  by  ye  said  Banister  to  ye  said  Chappell’s  child  by 
will  and  discharged  by  ye  said  Wallis  fully  from  ye  bond.  Being 
three  cows  and  one  heyfor.  It  is  ordered  by  ye  Co’t.  that  Thomas 
Chappell  give  bond  to  ye  Co’t  for  ye  cattle  bequeathed  to  his 
child  by  ye  last  will  and  testament  of  Lt.  John  Banister  and  by 
him  received  for  her  use,  being  three  cows  and  one  heyfor.’* 

“order  Book  p.  271” 

Thomas  Chappell's  wife  may  have  been,  and  probably  was,  the 
sister  of  Lieutenant  Banister. 

Reckoning  Captain  John  Chappell  as  our  first  ancestor,  and 
Thomas  as  the  second,  we  come  now  to  what  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  third  generation  in  the  colony.  The  data  referring 
to  them  has  been  obtained  from  the  land  books  preserved  in  the 
City  of  Richmond,  and  show  the  entries  of  land.  They  are  tran- 
scribed as  follows  : 


30 


A GENEA.LOGICAL  HISTORY  OE  THE 


Robert  Chappell,  patented  100  acres  land,  January  26,  1663. 

Book  5,  p.  24. 

Samuel  Chappell,  patented  78  acres,  July  4,  1664. 

Book  5,  p.  24. 

Thomas  Chappell,  patented  80  acres,  October  20,  1665. 

Book  5,  p.  520. 

These  lands  were  probal)ly  located  in  Warwick  or  Charles 
City  counties.  They  were  entered  by  “head  rights,”  so  called,  a 
grant  to  immigrants  in  consideration  of  their  settlement  in  the 
colony  ; they  were  transferable,  as  a land  warrant  is  to-day,  and 
the  purchaser  had  the  right  to  locate  them  on  any  vacant  public 
domain.  Robert,  Samuel  and  Thomas  were  doubtless  the  sons  of 
Thomas  Chappell  of  Charles  City  county,  they  were  at  the  time 
young  men,  just  beginning  life,  and  poor,  and  entered  these  tracts 
of  land  for  homes.  That  they  were  not  immigrants  is  evident  from 
the  fact  that  their  names  do  not  appear  on  Hotten’s  list.  There 
were  but  two  Chappells  at  that  time  in  the  colony,  John  and 
Thomas,  and  the  name  Thomas  among  the  three,  would  indicate 
that  they  were  the  sons  of  Thomas  of  Charles  City  county,  the 
immigrant  of  1635.  Thomas,  the  father,  was  23  years  old  when 
he  came  over.  He  was  therefore  born  in  1612,  and  hence  was 
51  years  old  when  the  sons  first  entered  land  in  1663. 

It  is  a remarkable  fact,  and  ivill  become  a})parent  to  the 
reader,  that  these  three  names  have  been  transmitted  from  one 
generation  to  another  in  the  different  branches  of  our  family  to  the 
present  day.  To  my  mind,  this  of  itself  is  persuasive  evidence,  if 
we  had  no  other,  that  the  line  of  descent,  which  has  been  indi- 
cated here,  and  accepted  as  correct,  is  the  proper  deduction,  and 
that  every  member  of  the  Southern  family  of  Chappells  is  a de- 
scendant of  one  of  these  three  brothers.  Of  these,  Samuel  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  ancestor  of  the  brandies  whose  histories 
are  written  here,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  father  of  two 
sons  of  Avhom  we  have  records  in  the  land  books.  These  were 
named  Samuel  and  Thomas.  This  Thomas  Cliappell  of  the  fourth 
generation  was  probably  the  ancestor  of  our  line. 

Thomas  Chappell,  the  third  of  the  name  in  America  and  of 
the  fourth  generation,  was  probably  born  aliout  1665,  and  hence 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


31 


was  30  years  old  when  he  began  to  enter  land  as  appears  below. 
He  lived  in  Charles  City  county,  and  became  a large  land  owner. 
His  brother  Samuel  also  entered  land  about  the  same  time.  These 
entries  were  as  follows  : 

Thomas  Chappell,  patented  423  acres  land  April  20,  1694. 

Book  8,  p.  371. 

Thomas  Chappell,  patented  994  acres,  April  25,  1701. 

Book  9,  p.  335. 

Samuel  Chappell,  patented  218  acres  land,  October  29,  1696. 

Book  9,  p.  43. 

The  entry  of  Thomas  Chappell  of  994  acres,  the  records  show 
was  by  locating  twenty  head  rights. 

There  also  appears  the  following  entry  : 

Zachariah  Chappell,  entered  175  acres,  April  6,  1684. 

We  have  no  cine  as  to  who  Zachariah  was  or  what  became  of 
him.  The  name  has  never  appeared  before  or  since  in  any  branch 
of  the  Chappell  family.  Our  ancestor  undoubtedly  lived  in 
Charles  City  county  from  about  1680  to  perhaps  1720,  but  we  find 
no  other  record  of  him. 

The  fifth  generation  is  represented  by  three  brothers  of  whom 
we  have  evidence  from  the  records.  They  were  Thomas,  Samuel 
and  Robert.  These  are  the  same  names  we  had  in  the  third  gen- 
eration, but  not  in  the  same  order.  They  were  the  sons  of  Thomas 
of  the  fourth  generation.  These  brothers  were  probably  born 
about  1690  in  Charles  City  county,  but  removed  across  the  James 
River  between  1715  and  1720  and  located  in  Prince  George.  “ 

We  are  beginning  now  to  emerge  from  the  obscurity  of  the 
“ dark  age  ” in  our  family  history,  and,  with  the  dawning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  the  rays  of  light  of  a new  era  are  beginning  to 
brighten  our  genealogical  pathway,  which  becomes  plainer  and 
more  easily  followed  ; for,  with  this  generation  we  find  the  first 
connection  of  the  records  with  our  family  traditions  as  they  have 
come  down  to  us  from  our  fathers — the  one  confirmed  by  the 
other. 

Thomas  Chappell  was  the  great- great- grandfather  of  the  gen- 
eration to  which  I belong  and  of  my  branch,  and  most  of  the 


* Prince  George  formed  from  Charles  City  county  in  1702. 


32  A GENEALOGICAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE 

Other  branches  whose  histories  are  found  in  these  pages.  He  was 
from  about  1720,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  (which  occurred  about 
1740,)  a merchant  and  Indian  trader  in  the  city  of  Petersburg, 
Va.,*  and  accumulated  a fortune,  leaving  a good  estate  to  his 
children.  Among  his  assets,  bequeathed  to  his  son  John,  was  a 
pair  of  money  scales,  inventoried  with  other  property  at  the 
latter’s  death,  in  1775.  f 

There  is  a well  authenticated  tradition  in  relation  to  this  old 
merchant  that  has  come  down  to  us  through  four  generations,  and 
which,  in  the  interest  of  the  truth  of  history,  should  be  recorded, 
although  it  may  give  offense  to  the  over  fastidious  members  of  the 
younger  generation. 

At  an  early  period  in  the  colony  of  Virginia,  people  liked 
their  toddies,”  as  they  do  to-day.  They  manufactured  their  own 
apple  and  peach  brandy  at  home,  but  there  was  no  whisky  in  that 
country  at  that  time,  and  the  common  beverage,  universally  used 
was  Jamaica  rum,  which  was  manufactured  in  the  West  Indies,  and 
distilled  from  molasses.  Our  old  ancestor,  on  one  occasion,  it  is 
said,  ordered  a cask  of  rum  from  his  correspondent  on  the  Island 
of  Jamaica.  The  cask  was  received  in  due  course  of  time  and 
placed  ‘‘  on  tap.”  It  was  a good  article,  and  the  old  gentleman 
and  his  friends  drank  freely  of  it.  When  the  cask  began  to  get 
empty,  however,  they  discovered  an  unpleasant  taste,  and  an 
aroma  not  altogether  pleasing  to  the  olfactories.  It  was  deter- 
mined, at  last,  to  knock  the  head  in  and  ascertain  what  was  the 
matter.  On  opening  it  they  were  astonished  to  find  the 
body  of  a little  old  Frenchman,  pretty  well  pickled.  It  is  said 
the  old  merchant  at  once  wrote  to  his  correspondent,  from  whom 
he  had  purchased  the  rum,  for  an  explanation,  and  was  informed 
that  a wealthy  French  planter  had  died  while  on  a visit  to  his 
plantation  on  the  Island  of  Jamaica,  and  his  friends, 
desiring  to  ship  his  remains  back  to  France,  and  there 
being  no  way  to  embalm  the  body,  determined  to  immerse  it  in  a 
©ask  of  rum  and  ship  the  cask,  there  being  sufficient  alcohol  in  the 
rum,  of  course,  to  preserve  the  body.  The  order  for  a cask  came 
from  Petersburg  at  the  same  time,  and  both  casks  being  exactly 


* Peteraburg  is  located  on  the  county  line  between  Prince  George  and  Dinwiddie  counties, 
t See  inventory  of  -John  Chappell,  of  Amelia. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


33 


alike,  the  merchant  had  made  a mistake  in  marking  them  and  the 
cask  intended  for  Petersburg  was  shipped  to  France,  and  the  one 
intended  for  France,  and  containing  the  Frenchman,  was  marked 
and  shipped  to  “ Thomas  Chappell,  Petersburg,  V a.” 

It  is  possible  that  some  of  our  young  kinspeople,  who  insist 
on  being  of  French  descent,  and  who  pronounce  the  name  with  the 
accent  on  the  last  syllable,  imbibed  their  French  predilection  from 
old  Tommy  Chappell’s  cask  of  rum. 

Thomas  Chappell  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  James  Jones, 
about  1710,  and  there  were  born  to.  them  six  children,  who  will  be 
referred  to  in  the  next  chapter.  In  the  Surry  county  records  was 
found  the  following  item  : “In  1722,  Thomas  Chappell  sold  to 

William  Cocke,  640  acres  of  land,  located  in  Surry  county.”  The 
records  also  show  that  Thomas,  at  that  time,  liyed  in  Prince 
George  county,  and  that  this  land  had  been  patented  by  .James 
Jones  and  deyised  by  him  to  Thomas  Chappell  in  his  will. 

On  the  death  of  Thomas  Chappell,  which  occurred  about  1740, 
his  widow  married  William  Crawley.  They  and  her  children  by 
her  first  husband,  some  of  the  children  of  Samuel  Chappell,  and 
other  members  of  the  family,  among  whom  were  some  of  the 
Crawley s,  remoyed  to  Amelia  county,  still  further  west,  about 
1745  or  1746.  The  history  of  these  will  be  found  in  another 
chapter.  The  recorded  eyidence  we  haye  of  Thomas  Chap})ell,  is 
corroborated  by  an  old  manuscript,  now  in  my  possession,  which 
was  found  in  Virginia,  and  which  was  written  by  his  great-grand- 
son, James  Chappell,  of  Amelia.* 

Samuel  Chappell,  brother  of  Thomas  of  Petersburg,  and  son 
of  Thomas  of  Charles  City  county,  remoyed  to  Prince  George, 
probably  with  his  brother.  We  haye  no  tradition  of  him  and  only 
the  following  record.  His  will  was  filed  in  Surry  county,  for  he 
was  a large  land  owner,  and  while  he  liyed  in  Prince  George, 
owned  land  in  Surry  and  also  in  North  Carolina.  His  wife  was 
named  Elizabeth  and  they  had  children,  among  whom  were  two 
sons,  John  and  Joseph,  and  a daughter.  Joseph  became  the  pro- 
genitor of  the  Georgia  branch  ; all  of  these  will  be  referred  to  in 
another  chapter.  We  also  find  record  of  one  Benjamin  Chappell, 
of  Dinwiddle  county,  who  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolution  of  ’76, 


* See  manuscript  in  Chapter  III. 


34 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of  Samuel.  The  tradition 
handed  down  to  us  in  the  manuscript  referred  to,  is  that  Samuel 
Chappell  also  left  a good  estate  to  his  children. 

We  have  greatly  to  lament  the  entire  loss  of  the  records  in 
both  Prince  George  and  Dinwiddle  counties  ; had  they  been  pre- 
served, doubtless  we  should  not  now  be  compelled  to  grope  in  the 
darkness  to  recover  the  history  of  our  family  from  1700  to  1745. 

Robert  was  another  son  of  Thomas  of  Charles  City,  and  a 
brother  of  Thomas  and  Samuel  Chappell.  The  only  record  found 
of  him  was  in  the  old  parish  register  of  Bristol  parish,  embracing 
Prince  George  and  Dinwiddle  counties.  The  entries  are  as  follows: 
“ Ann,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Chappell,  was  born  Feb’y  8, 
1721.”  “Absalom,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Chappell,  w^as 
born  May  6,  1729.”  Robert,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Chaj3- 

pell,  was  born  April  2,  1732.”  These  are  the  only  Chappell 
records  found  in  the  old  register.  Thomas  and  Samuel  may  not 
have  been  members  of  this  parish.  Elizabeth  was,  probably,  the 
second  wife  of  Robert.  We  have  no  further  account  of  this 
branch  in  Virginia,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  Robert  Jr., 
born  in  1732,  emigrated  to  South  Carolina  and  there  established 
a South  Carolina  branch.  He  will  again  be  referred  to  in  connec- 
tion with  the  history  of  that  branch. 

In  reviewing  this  chapter  it  will  be  observed  that  there  are 
several  members  of  the  family  unaccounted  for.  We  have  no 
knowledge  as  to  what  became  of  them  or  their  descendants. 

First,  there  is  the  immigrant,  John  Chappell,  aged  38,  who 
came  over  on  the  “Assurance,”  in  July,  1635.  Nothing  is  known 
of  him;  he  may  or  may  not  have  been  related  to  Thomas,  the  im- 
migrant. Then  there  is  John  Chappell,  the  “rebel,”  who  re-em- 
barked from  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  in  1685.  He  came  to 
America,  if  at  all,  too  late  to  have  become  the  ancestor  of  the  Vir- 
ginia family.*  We  know,  almost  of  a certainty,  that  we  are  de- 
scended from  Thomas,  Samuel  and  Robert,  whose  names  appear 
on  the  land  books  from  1663-1665. 

Then  of  the  three  brothers,  we  have  no  dehnite  record,  during 
the  early  period  of  Robert  or  Thomas,  nor  lias  any  attempt  been 
made  to  trace  their  descent.  Again,  in  the  fourth  generation, 


* There  is  no  evidence  that  he  came  to  Virginia. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


35 


there  were  two  brothers  living  in  Charles  City  county  named 
Thomas  and  Samuel,  sons  of  Samuel  of  1665.  They  were  prob- 
ably born  about  1665.  Both  patented  lands,  as  shown  by  the 
records,  from  1694  to  1701.  Thomas  was  our  ancestor.  What 
became  of  Samuel  or  his  descendants,  is  not  known.  Of  course, 
some  of  these  may  have  died  without  issue,  but  there  may  have 
been  others  of  whom  no  record  is  found.  The  most  irreparable 
loss  sustained  by  us  in  the  destruction  of  the  records  of  Virginia, 
was  that  of  the  loss  of  the  wills  of  our  ancestors.  In  these  were 
given  the  names  of  their  wives  and  children,  and  they  furnish  the 
only  correct  and  reliable  data  from  which  the  descent  from  one 
ojeneration  to  another  can  be  obtained. 

As  far  back  as  the  year  1700,  there  was,  at  least,  one  other 
family  of  Chappells  in  Virginia  from  whom  we  are  not  descended, 
although,  from  their  family  names,  they  were,  doubtless,  a branch 
of  the  same  family,  and,  perhaps,  descended  from  John,  the  im- 
migrant ( 1635  ) or  from  Robert  or  Thomas  ( 1663-1665.)  I think 
the  latter  the  most  probable.  A family  of  Chappells  lived  in  Surry 
and  Sussex  from  1700  to  1772.  They  could  not,  from  these  dates, 
have  been  our  ancestors,  or  the  ancestors  of  any  branch  referred  to 
in  this  history.  The  land  records  show  that  one  James  Chappell, 
called  in  his  patents  “James  Chappell,  Gentleman,”  entered  large 
tracts  of  land  in  Surry  county  between  1700  and  1730,  also  that 
James  Chappell  of  Sussex,  probably  his  son,  also  made  entries 
from  1730  to  1750.  These  two  counties  are  adjoining. 

The  original  register  of  Albemarle  parish  ( Surry  and  Sussex 
counties)  is  yet  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  Virginia  Historical 
Society.  This  register  was  kept  by  William  Willie,  a minister  of 
the  Established  Church.  The  following  notes  have  been  abstracted 
therefrom  and  doubtless  refer  to  the  family  of  James  Chappell, 
Gentleman,  of  Surry,  who  died  February  12,  1769: 

“Children  born  to  .James  and  Elizabeth  Chappell  : Ann,  Dec. 
22,  1739.  Lucretia,  Eeb’y  10,  1742.  Howell,  July  30,  1744. 
Henry,  March  5,  1751,  John,  March  8,  1755,  Rebecca  in  1760. 

Robert,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Chappell,  born  Sep. 
24,  1742. 

Christopher,  son  of  Samuel  Chappell  Jr.  and  Mary,  born  Sept. 
15,  1744. 


36 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Children  of  John  and  Mary  Chappell : Howell,  born  Feb’y 
27,  1759.  John,  born  Aug.  19,1763.  Thomas,  born  January  17, 
1772.  James,  son  of  Howell  and  Rebecca  Chappell,  born  Feb’y 
12,  1767.” 

Elizabeth  died  June  11,  1762.  James  Chappell  Sr.,  died  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1769.  Samuel  Chappell,  January  2,  1765. 

The  following  are  mentioned  as  serving  as  god-fathers  and 
god-mothers.  Sarah,  in  1741.  John,  in  1753.  James  Jr.,  in 
1744.  Amy,  in  1751.  Thomas,  1755.  Samuel,  Jr.,  1745  and  Re- 
becca in  1747. 

There  are  many  families  of  the  name  now  living  in  Virginia, 
and  perhaps  others  living  in  the  different  Southern  States,  who 
are,  doubtless,  descended  from  some  one  of  the  original  settlers 
referred  to,  or  others  whose  names  are  not  now  known.  The 
directory  of  the  city  of  Richmond,  gives  the  names  of  not  less 
than  ten  or  twelve  Chappells  ; the  state  directory  of  Virginia  as 
many  more.  There  are  others,  of  whom  we  have  trace,  living  in 
Surry,  Sussex,  Southampton,  Dinwiddie  and  other  counties  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State.  No  effort  has  been  made  to  trace  the 
connection  of  any  of  these  with  the  original  trunk,  although  they 
are,  doubtless,  from  the  same  colonial  ancestry.  To  attempt  to 
trace  the  genealogy  of  each  would  be  an  endless  task  and  far 
beyond  the  scope  of  this  undertaking. 

We  have  a record  of  two  of  the  older  Chappells,  both  old 
bachelors,  that  may  be  worth  mentioning.  Their  connection  with 
the  family,  however,  is  not  known  to  me.  In  Greenville  county, 
Va.,  was  found  the  will  of  one  John  Chappell,  who  seems  to  have 
been  wealthy.  He  died  in  1808.  His  will  was  dated  December 
4,  1807.  In  it  he  manumits  his  slaves,  and  devises  his  plantation 
“ to  the  poor  of  the  county,  forever.”  His  personalty  was  directed 
to  be  sold  and  after  the  payment  of  his  just  debts,  the  residue  was 
directed  to  be  given  to  Stephen  Chappell  and  Francis  Roberts, 
formerly  Francis  Chappell,  “ if  they  come  after  it.”  The  present 
county  farm,  with  the  poor-house  thereon,  is  the  identical  property 
so  benevolently  devised  in  the  will  of  this  old  man,  nearly  a cen- 
tury ago.  May  it  ever  remain  a monument  to  his  memory  with 
“the  poor  of  the  county,  forever.” 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHEE  KIKDPED  FAMILIES. 


37 


There  died  in  Bedford  county,  near  Lynchburg,  Ya.,  in  1891, 
another  very  eccentric  and  wealthy  old  man,  named  Abner  Chap- 
pell. He  lived  to  be  eighty  years  old  and  devised  his  estate  to  his 
overseer.  His  will  was  contested  by  his  relatives,  and,  after  being, 
tried  in  the  lower  courts,  the  case  was  carried  to  the  Appellate 
Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Virginia.  The  decision  of  the 
lower  court  was  there  reversed  and  the  estate  given  to  the  legal 
heirs.  The  evidence  is  voluminous,  and  the  case,  an  interesting 
one,  is  reported  in  the  Southern  Law  Journal. 


V 


38 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  III. 


Amelia  County,  Virginia — The  Crawleys — Sarah  Crawley — 

James  Chappell  of  Amelia,  son  of  Sarah  Crawley. 

It  was  on  the  afternoon  of  a beautiful  October  day  in  1893, 
that  I stepped  from  a car  of  the  Richmond  & Danville  Railroad 
to  the  platform,  at  the  old  and  dilapidated  village  of  Amelia  Court 
House.  The  town  was  of  some  commercial  importance  a century 
and  a half  ago,  but  like  many  of  the  old  county  seats  in  this  part 
of  the  State,  has  long  since  lost  its  prestige.  The  houses  have 
gone  to  ruin  and  decay,  and  the  architecture  is  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. And  yet  Amelia  county  was,  at  one  time,  one  of  the  most 
fertile  and  wealthy  counties  in  the  grand  old  Commonwealth,  the 
seat  of  learning  and  refinement  ; her  women  the  most  beautiful, 
and  her  men  the  most  chivalrous  of  all  the  Southland. 

The  old  court  house  w^as  pointed  out  to  me  in  which  I found 
in  Col.  Coleman,  the  clerk,  who  has  held  the  office  continuously  for 
half  a century,  a perfect  type  of  the  old  Virginia  gentleman.  On 
making  known  the  purpose  of  my  visit,  carte-blanchew2i^  given  me 
to  examine  the  records  at  my  leisure.  Fortunately  for  us  the 
records  in  Amelia,  unlike  those  in  Prince  George,  Dinwiddie  and 
other  counties  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  have  escaped  the 
torch  of  the  invader.  Had  they  been  destroyed,  this  history 
would  not  have  been  written,  for  they  furnish  the  connecting  link 
between  the  present  and  the  dim  past,  and  the  first  complete  and 
authentic  account  of  our  ancestors.  They  cover  a period  extend- 
ing from  1746  to  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and,  in  fact,  these 
records,  wdth  those  in  Halifax  and  other  counties,  give  an  un- 
broken record,  with  scarcely  a missing  name  or  date,  of  the  differ- 
ent branches  of  the  family  to  the  present  time. 

Amelia  Court  House  is  an  historic  village.  It  was  here  that 
General  Lee,  in  his  memorable  retreat  from  Richmond,  intended 
to  make  his  last  stand,  and  fight  his  final  battle,  in  his  effort  to 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


39 


retrieve  the  waning  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy.  Here  he  awaited 
his  commissary  trains.  They  failed  to  arrive,  and  being  sorely 
pressed  by  the  Federal  forces,  he  was  compelled  to  continue  his 
retreat  on  to  Appomattox,  where  the  surrender  occurred  on  April 
9th,  1865.  Col.  Coleman  narrated  to  me  the  following  incident 
which  accounts  for  the  preservation  of  the  old  court  house  and  its 
records,  and  which  deserves  to  be  recorded  in  history  as  a just  and 
worthy  act  of  a brave  man.  He  said  : 

“On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of  April,  1865,  the  main  body 
of  the  Confederate  army  had  retreated.  The  women,  children 
and  a few  old  men,  unable  to  bear  arms,  were  thus  left  to  the 
mercy  of  the  enemy.  An  officer  with  flowing  auburn  hair  rode  up 
in  front  of  the  court  bouse  and  inquired  for  the  clerk.  I was 
pointed  out  to  him.  He  said  : ‘ Go  into  your  office,  sir  ! Open 

the  doors  and  remain  there.  I will  place  a guard  around  this 
building  and  it  shall  not  be  destroyed.’  This  gallant  and  consid- 
erate officer  was  General  Custer,  whose  sad  and  unfortunate  death 
occurred  in  1876  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians  in  the  battle  of  the 
Big  Horn  in  Montana,  a battle  that  will  ever  remain  memorable 
from  the  fact  that  of  the  entire  command  engaged  uot  a single 
white  man  escaped,  and  all  details  of  the  bloody  massacre  known 
were  obtained  from  the  Indians  themselves.  Custer  died  as  he 
had  lived,  a brave  and  chivalrous  soldier.  Had  there  been  more 
of  his  type,  Virginia  Avould  have  been  the  scene  of  fewer  acts  of 
vandalism,  and  the  old  records  of  the  state,  relics  of  colonial  days, 
entitled  to  be  spared  as  something  sacred,  would  have  been 
preserved. 

It  is  a well  known  historical  fact  that  on  this  memorable  re- 
treat from  Amelia  Court  House  to  Appomattox,  the  only  rations 
issued  to  the  Confederate  troops  were  two  ears  of  corn  to  each 
man  per  day.  This  they  shelled  and  parched  in  the  ashes  of  their 
camp-fires  as  they  Mvouaced,  placing  it  in  their  haversacks  to  be 
eaten  as  they  fell  back.  Thus  they  retreated,  fighting  doggedly 
until  exhausted  and  half  starved,  the  inevitable  surrender  came. 
The  history  of  the  civilized  world  furnishes  no  parallel  to  the 
fortitude,  courage  and  patience  displayed  by  this  forlorn  hope  of 
a dying  nation.  And  these  men — these  soldiers  of  the  Confederate 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia — were  the  descendants  of  the  cavaliers 


40 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


of  the  colony  ; the  same  people  from  whom  we  sprang — the  purest 
type  of  the  Anglo-American  race.  Their  grandfathers,  a century 
before,  had  thrown  olf  the  British  yoke  and  cemented  with  their 
blood  the  foundation  of  the  greatest  nation  the  world  has  ever 
seen.  One  war  was  called  a “revolution,”  the  other  has  gone 
down  into  history  as  a “rebellion;”  the  soldiers  of  one  were  called 
“patriots,”  of  the  other  “rebels.”  The  ditference  being  that  one 
succeeded — the  other  failed. 

On  the  roster  of  the  remnant  of  the  Confederate  army  that 
surrendered  at  Appomattox  are  found  the  names  of  four  of  our 
kindred,  brave  and  heroic  young  fellows,  who  sheathed  their 
swords  when  all  was  over.  They  were  : 

Thos.  A.  Chappell,  Capt.  Pickett’s  Guards. 

G.  D.  Chappell,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  K,  12th  Va.  Infantry. 

G.  B.  Chappell,  private  Co.  H,  13th  Reg.  Beals’  Cavalry. 

M.  C.  Chappell,  private  Co.  F,  52nd  N.  C.  Regiment. 

Amelia  county  was  organized  in  1734,  the  first  court  was  held 
on  May  9,  1735,  and  the  first  clerk  was  Edward  Booker.  The 
name  Booker  will  be  recognized — it  is  still  a family  name  in 
branches  of  both  the  Chappell  and  Adams  families. 

These  old  record  books  were  themselves  a curiosity,  and  are 
worthy  of  a description.  They  were  manufactured  in  England  a 
hundred  and  sixty  years  ago,  but  are  yet  in  a fair  state  of  preser- 
vation. The  paper  is  what  is  termed  “glazed  ledger,”  and  was 
manufactured  of  the  finest  linen  fabric,  smooth  and  heavy,  and  the 
pages  without  ruling.  The  binding  is  of  calf,  and  is  exceedingly 
heavy,  and  of  the  most  substantial  workmanship.  Evidently  they 
were  made  to  last,  and  there  were  no  trusts  in  the  book  manufac- 
turing business  when  they  were  made.  The  books  were  neatly 
kept,  the  penmanship  superb  and  the  lettering  in  English  script. 

These  records  tell  a strange  story  of  the  civilization  of  the 
period  in  which  our  forefathers  lived.  They  show  that  in  the 
early  history  of  Amelia  county  the  currency  used,  if  it  may  be  so 
called,  was  tobacco,  which  was  the  great  staple  of  the  country. 
All  revenue,  fines,  salaries  and  judgments  of  courts  were  paid  in 
tobacco,  a certain  number  of  pounds  constituting  the  unit  of  value. 
The  pages  of  the  books  are  yellow  with  age,  but  on  them,  and  on 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  A!SD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES.  41 

the  shelves  of  the  building  were  found  the  wills  of  the  Chappells, 
Comptons,  Crawleys,  and  those  of  many  others  whose  names  had 
been  familiar  to  me  in  my  native  state — Missouri.  I also  found 
their  deeds,  marriage  bonds  and  licenses,  and  the  settlements  of 
their  estates. 

It  is  a singular  coincidence  that  in  opening  the  will  book,  the 
first  name  to  attract  my  attcDtion  was  that  of  ‘‘William  Crawley.” 

I paused  ! The  name  had  been  a familiar  one  to  me.  For  a 
quarter  of  a century  I had  known  a gentleman  in  Missouri  who, 
from  his  name,  I had  felt  instinctively  was  a kinsman.  I had  met 
him  often  in  Democratic  state  conventions,  and  at  the  State  Cap- 
ital. We  had  frequently  spoken  of  our  probable  relationship,  but 
neither  knew  enough  of  his  lineage  to  trace  any  connection, 
although  we  believed  that  the  same  blood  flowed  through  our 
veins.  Here  then  was  the  evidence  of  the  relationship.  This 
gentleman  is  Hon.  John  Chappell  Crawley  of  Keytesville,  Mo.,  an 
eminent  lawyer,  a well  known  politician  and  a man  of  prominence 
and  high  social  position  in  the  State.  We  are  each  lineal  de- 
scendants of  Sarah,  wife  of  William  Crawley,  who  will  be  referred 
to  again.  His  father  bestowed  on  him  the  name  “John  Chappell,” 
a family  name,  in  compliment  no  doubt  to  my  grandfather,  .John 
Chappell  of  Halifax  county,  Va.,  and  my  friend.  Col.  Crawley,  es- 
teems it  so  highly  that  it  has  been  perpetuated  in  his  son  and 
grandson. 

The  date  of  this  old  will,  being  the  first  recorded,  has  been 
effaced,  but  it  was  probably  probated  about  1750.  Xothing  is 
known  of  the  nativity  of  William  Crawley  ; he  was  doubtless  an 
old  man  when  he  died,  probably  a septuagenarian.  That  he  Avas  a 
man  of  prominence  and  wealth  we  have  both  traditional*  and  re- 
corded evidence.  He  was  probably  born  in  Charles  City  county 
about  1680.  He  became  a large  land  owner  in  both  Prince  George 
and  Amelia  counties,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  records,  ab- 
stracted from  the  land  books  at  Richmond  : 

Yol.  15,  p.  89 — June  30,  1733,  William  Crawley  entered  land 
on  the  south  side  of  Otterdam  creek  in  Prince  George  county. 

On  July  20,  1733,  Vol.  15,  p.  98,  he  again  entered  lands  in 
Prince  George.  The  records  show  that  he  owned  over  four  thou- 


"^See  James  Chappell  manuscript. 
—4 


42  A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 

sand  acres  of  land  in  Prince  George  at  this  time,  1733-1734.  On 
Ang.  25,  1746,  Vol.  24,  p.  389,  the  records  show  that  William 
Crawley  and  William  Watson  entered  a large  tract  of  land  on  the 
upper  side  of  Buck  Creek  in  Amelia  county.  Again  the  same 
parties  entered  a tract  of  377  acres  in  Amelia  in  1746.  This  lat- 
ter date  (1746)  may  therefore  be  presumed  to  be  the  year  of  his 
removal,  and  that  of  his  family  and  the  Chappells,  from  Prince 
George  to  Amelia  county.  The  date  also  agrees  with  deeds  and 
other  records  found  in  Amelia. 

William  Crawley  married  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Chap- 
pell of  Petersburg,  the  old  merchant.  This  marriage  must  have 
occurred  between  1730  and  1740.  But  one  child  was  born  of  the 
union,  a son,  whose  name  also  was  William.  It  seems  that  quite 
a colony  emigrated  with  William  Crawley  to  Amelia  county. 
There  were  the  children  of  Mrs.  Crawley  by  her  first  husband, 
some  of  whom  were  grown  and  married.  Besides  these  there 
were  her  two  nephews  and  a niece,  the  orphan  children  of  Samuel 
Chappell,  who  will  again  be  referred  to.  There  were  also  some 
of  the  Crawleys,  among  others  one  named  John.  There  were 
probably  many  other  relatives  and  friends  whose  names  are  now 
unknown  to  us  ; for  it  seems  that  when  these  old  people  moved 
farther  back  as  the  Indians  gave  way  and  the  country  was  opened 
to  civilization,  large  colonies  went  together.  Such  was  the  case 
when  another  generation  of  these  same  people,  in  1780  to  1785, 
removed  to  Halifax  county,  Va.,  and  again  when  a still  later  gen- 
eration emigrated  from  the  latter  county  to  Callaway  county,  Mo., 
between  1835  and  1840.  In  fact,  in  the  southern  part  of  Callaway 
county,  one-half  the  early  inhabitants  were  from  Halifax 
county,  Ya. 

There  have  been  several  marriages  between  the  Chappells  and 
Crawleys.  The  young  daughter  of  Samuel  Chappell  referred  to, 
married  a Crawley,  it  is  believed.*  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of 
William  Chappell  of  Halifax,  married  Thomas  Hull  Crawley  about 
1810,  probably  a son  of  William  Crawley,  Jr.  Elizabeth  Chap- 
pell, Jr.,  a daughter  of  William  Chappell,  married  Kennar  Craw- 
ley, son  of  Thomas  Hull  Crawley.  A daughter  of  Thomas  Hull 
Crawley,  named  Nancy,  married  Joseph  Garlington,  son  of 


See  old  manuscript. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


43 


Edwin  Garlington  and  Susannah  Dickie,  related  to  the  Chap- 
pells. Still  another  daughter  of  Kennar  Crawley  married  a rela- 
tive of  the  Chappell  family — a Gresham — and  emigrated  to  'Holt 
county,  Mo.,  and  died  there  several  years  ago.  The  most  of  these 
will  again  be  referred  to  in  the  history  of  their  respective 
branches. 

William  Crawley,  Jr.,  son  of  William  Crawley  and  Sarah, 
probably  lived  out  his  days  and  died  in  Amelia  county.  He  lived 
while  in  Amelia  on  Deep  Creek.  He  left  sons  who  emigrated  to 
Halifax  county  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  with  their  Chappell 
kindred,  and  their  names  were  frequently  found  in  searching  the 
records  of  that  county.  Several  of  their  descendants,  all  indus- 
trious, honest  and  well-to-do  farmers,  yet  live  near  Black  Walnut, 
on  the  south  side  of  Dan  River,  in  the  ancestral  neighborhood  in 
Halifax  county.  They  have  the  reputation  of  being  the  best 
tobacco  raisers  in  that  county. 

There  is  preserved  in  Amelia  county,  and  now  in  possession 
of  H.  Clay  Chappell,  an  old  powder  gourd  that  once  belonged  to 
William  Crawley.  It  is  a relic  of  a by-gone  age,  and  on  it  is 
plainly  cut  the  name  and  date  : 

“ William  Crawley,  1760.” 

It  probably  belonged  to  William  Crawley,  Jr.,  as  the  father, 
William  Crawley,  Sr.,  died  before  1760,  as  is  established  by  the 
will  of  his  widow  (Sarah),  which  will  be  found  at  the  close  of  this 
chapter. 


SARAH  CRAWLEY. 

If  I was  called  on  to  select  one  name  from  the  many  hun- 
dreds mentioned  in  these  pages  which  should  be  revered  and 
honored,  it  would  be  that  of  Sarah  Crawley  ; for  aside  from  the 
fact  that  she  was  undoubtedly  a woman  of  intelligence,  strong 
a:ffection  and  great  courage,  she  was  the  very  first  of  our  ancestors 
of  whom  we  have  a well  defined  and  satisfactory  history. 

The  older  Chappells  seem  to  have  been  an  industrious,  ener- 
getic and  frugal  people,  and  all  at  their  deaths  left  estates.  I have 


44 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  will  of  Mrs.  Crawley,  and  those  of  every  succeeding  genera- 
tion in  my  line  down  to  the  present  time.  These  wills  furnish  in- 
contestable evidence  of  the  names,  dates,  and  in  many  cases  inter- 
marriages, of  the  different  generations. 

Sarah  Crawley  was  born,  probably,  in  Charles  City  county, 
about  1690.  As  has  been  stated  in  a previous  chapter,  she  was 
the  daughter  of  James  Jones.  She  first  married  Thomas  Chappell 
about  1710,  and  lived  in  Petersburg,  Va.,  where  her  husband  was 
an  Indian  trader  and  merchant,  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
about  1730  to  1740.  She  then  married  William  Crawley,  who  has 
been  referred  to.  She  died  in  Amelia  county  (having  removed 
from  Prince  George  county,)  in  January,  1761,  at  an  advanced 
age.  Reckoning  from  the  age  of  her  son,  John  Chappell,  whose 
age  we  know,  she  must  have  been  about  70  years  old  at  the  time 
of  her  death. 

Her  will  was  written  Dec.  11,  1759,  and  probated  Jan.  22, 
1761.  Her  two  sons,  John  and  James  Chappell,  were  named  as 
her  executors.  The  estate  was  small,  probably  the  “widow’s 
dower.”  She  had,  it  seems,  given  most  of  her  property  to  her 
children  before  making  her  will.  She  also  seems  to  have  been 
living  with  her  son-in-law,  William  Neal,  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
and  very  thoughtfully  provides  that  “If  my  son-in-law,  William 
Neal,  have  any  demand  against  my  estate,  I desire  it  may  be  ac- 
counted for  with  him  in  the  legacy  bequeathed  his  wife.”  She 
possibly  anticipated  the  presentation  of  a board  bill  for  allowance 
after  her  death.  As  a matter  of  curiosity  I transcribe  the  will 
verbatim. 


WILL  OF  SARAH  CRAWLEY. 

“In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  The  eleventh  day  of  December, 
A.  D.  1759,  I,  Sarah  Crawley,  of  the  parish  of  Raleigh  and  county 
of  Amelia,  being,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  in  health  and  of 
sound  and  disposing  memory,  do  make  and  ordain  this  my  last 
will  and  testament. 

Imprimus,  I give  to  my  son,  Robert  Chappell,  forty  shillings, 
to  be  paid  by  my  executors.  Item,  I give  to  my  daughter,  Mary 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


45 


Morgan,  forty  shillings,  current  money.  I give  to  my  daughter, 
Sarah  Burton,  forty  shillings.  Item,  I give  to  my  son,  William 
Crawley,  one  chest  of  drawers  which  he  now  has  in  his  possession. 
Item,  I desire  that  my  daughters,  Mary  Morgan  and  Ann 
]Sieal,  divide  my  wearing  clothes  equally  between  themselves. 

Item,  I give  to  my  daughter,  Ann  Xeal,  my  saddle,  pewter, 
bed  and  furniture,  which  I now  have  at  my  son-in-laAv’s,  William 
Xeal,  together  with  the  use  of  one  negro  girl,  named  Kancy,  and 
her  increase,  during  her  natural  life;  and  if  my  son-in-law,  M'illiam 
Neal,  have  any  demand  against  my  estate  I desire  it  may  be  ac- 
counted for  with  him  in  the  legacy  bequeathed  his  wife,  and  not 
to  come  out  of  any  other  part  of  my  estate  for  the  satisfaction 
thereof. 

All  of  the  above  legacies  are  given  in  addition  to  what  I have 
already  given  my  said  children. 

Item,  I give  to  my  granddaughter,  Mary  Neal,  one  small  trunk. 
Item,  My  desire  is  that  after  the  death  of  my  daughter,  Ann  Neal, 
the  negro  girl  Nancy,  and  her  increase,  be  equally  divided  among 
my  four  grandchildren,  viz  : Joel,  John,  Mary  and  Elizabeth 

Neal,  which  I give  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever.  Item,  I give 
to  my  son,  James  Chappell,  one  negro  man,  named  Hampton,  he 
paying  his  brother,  John  Chappell,  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  cur- 
rent money.*  Item,  I give  my  stock  of  all  kinds,  together  with 
all  my  other  estate,  not  heretofore  mentioned,  to  be  equally 
divided  between  my  sons,  John  and  James  Chappell,  which  I give 
to  them  and  their  heirs  forever. 

Lastly,  I constitute  and  appoint  my  sous,  John  Chappell  and 
James  Chappell,  executors  of  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  re- 
voking all  former  wills  by  me  made,  either  by  word  of  mouth  or  in 
writing  ; ratifying  and  confirming  this,  and  no  other,  to  be  my 
last  will  and  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  affixed  my 
seal,  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

Sarah  Crawley,  [seal.] 

Sealed,  published  and  delivered  in  presence  of 
John  Ford. 

John  Ford,  Jr.” 


* The  value  of  Hamptou  as  fixed  would  be  $285. 


46 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


“At  a court  held  for  Amelia  county,  the  22nd  day  of  January, 
1761,  this  will  was  proven  by  the  oaths  of  John  Ford  and  John 
Ford  Jr.,  the  witnesses  thereto  sworn  to,  and  ordered  to  be  re- 
corded. And  the  executors  therein  named,  John  Chappell  and 
James  Chappell,  having  entered  into  and  acknowledged  bond,  with 
John  Ford  as  their  security,  as  the  law  directs,  were  granted 
certificates  of  Probate. 

[seal.]  Teste:  Griffin  Peachy,  County  Clerk.” 

Sarah  Crawley  had,  by  her  first  husband,  as  shown  by  her  will, 
six  children  ; John,  James  and  Robert  Chappell,  and  Mary  Mor- 
gan, Sarah  Burton  and  Ann  Neal.  All  of  these  were  married,  un- 
less Robert  was  single.  Whether  he  was  married  or  not  at  this 
time,  is  not  positively  known.  By  her  last  husband,  William 
Crawley,  she  had  but  one  child,  a son,  also  named  William, 
doubtless  the  child  of  her  old  age. 

These  sons  each  became  the  progenitor  of  a separate  branch, 
whose  histories  will  be  given  hereafter.  Nothing  further  is  known 
of  the  daughters. 


JAMES  CHAPPELL  OF  AMELIA,  SON  OF  SARAH 
CRAWLEY. 

James  Chappell  was  born  in  1722,  probably  in  Prince  George 
county,  Va.,  and  removed  from  that  county  to  Amelia,  with  his 
mother,  brothers,  sisters  and  other  members  of  the  family,  as  has 
been  stated,  in  1745  or  1746.  He  was  twenty-four  years  old  at 
that  time,  and  married.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Susan 
Hudson  ; she  died,  and  on  November  17,  1767,  he  married  Phoebe, 
daughter  of  John  Archer.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  ten  ' 
children,  and  by  the  last,  two.  The  names  of  the  former  were  as 
follows,  and  their  births,  in  the  order  named  : William,  John  and 

James  ( twins  ),  Martha,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Ann,  Miles,  Abner  and 
Robert ; and  of  the  latter,  Dorothy  and  Caty.  All  of  these  were 
living  at  his  death,  and  are  mentioned  in  his  will,  except  William. 
James  Chappell,  like  his  brother  John,  was  wealthy.  They 
were  the  sons  of  Mrs.  Crawley  by  her  first  husband,  Thomas 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


47 


Chappell  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  from  their  father,  it  is  said, 
they  inherited  their  wealth.  It  is  probable  they  were  also  indebted 
to  him  for  unusual  adv^antages  in  education  and  early  business 
training,  for  they  were,  undoubtedly,  good  business  men,  and 
these  were  advantages  not  often  obtained  at  that  early  day. 

James  Chappell  died  in  October,  1776,  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolutionary  War  ; he  was  a tobacco  planter,  owned  several 
plantations  and  many  slaves,  and  among  other  possessions  was  a 
valuable  water  mill.  It  is  said  he  contracted  a fever  from  the  mill 
race,  which  caused  his  death.  He  was  54  years  old  when  he  died, 
and  left  a will,  a copy  of  which  I have.  I have  also  a copy  of  the 
appraisment  of  his  estate.  These  documents  are  too  lengthy  to  be 
transcribed  here.  The  will  is  drawn  with  great  skill  and  care  and 
is  a model  instrument  of  its  kind,  and  covers  five  sheets  of  legal 
cap.  His  personal  estate,  as  shown  by  the  appraisement,  amounted 
to  about  £5,000  or  $25,000,  in  our  currency.  He  made  an  equal 
distribution  of  his  property,  giving  to  each  child  a tract  of  land 
and  several  negroes;  he  also  provided  for  his  widow’s  dower,  as 
follows  : 

“I  lend  to  my  beloved  wife,  Phoebe  Chappell,  during  her  natural 
life,  that  part  of  my  plantation  where  I now  live,  lying  above 
Taylor’s  Branch,”  also  certain  negroes  and  “stock.”  Not  railroad 
or  bank  stock,  but  cattle,  hogs,  sheep,  and  horses.  He  also  gave 

her  his  furniture,  etc.,  as  follo^vs  : “All  of  my  iron  pots,  pot- 
hooks, pot-racks,  knives  and  forks,  peioter  and  earthen-ware, 

two  feather  beds,  two  walnut  tables,  etc.,”  and  further  directs 

his  executors  to  purchase  for  her  and  each  of  his  girls,  a new  side- 
saddle. “I  desire  her  grain  shall  be  ground  in  my  mill  as  long  as 
she  lives  or  the  mill  stands.”  The  meaning  of  the  word  lend^  as 
used  here,  is  fully  explained  in  the  sketch  of  his  brother  John  ; it 
simply  meant  a dower  or  lifetime  estate. 

I found  a strange  clause  in  this  old  will,  w’hich  I was,  for  a 
time,  at  a loss  to  understand.  It  was  this  : “If  my  wife  abide 

by  this,  my  will,  I give  to  my  two  youngest  children,  Dorothy  and 
Caty  and  to  their  heirs,  as  follows,”  (describes  certain  lands  and 
negroes),  “but,  if  my  wife  do  not  abide  by  this,  my  will,  I give 
my  said  daughters,  Dorothy  and  Caty,  five  shillings  each.”  The 
purpose  of  the  old  gentleman  was,  no  doubt,  to  prevent  his  young 


48 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


widow  from  repudiating  the  will,  and  claiming  a dower,  which 
might  have  been,  considering  the  number  of  children,  an  un- 
just part  of  his  estate.  As  the  two  little  girls  named  were  her  own 
children,  and  the  others  were  the  children  by  his  first  marriage, 
the  provision  of  the  will  was,  doubtless,  a wise  one,  especially  as 
he  had  devised  his  property  equally  among  all  of  his  children, 
making  no  distinction  between  those  of  the  first  and  second  mar- 
riages. As  had  been  the  custom  in  the  family,  the  two  oldest 
sons,  John  and  James,  were  left  executors,  without  bond.  The 
will  was  signed  September  14,  and  probated  October  24th,  1776. 

As  but  little  is  known  of  the  children  of  James  Chappell,  or 
their  descendants,  other  than  his  two  sons,  John  and  James,  the 
history,  as  far  as  it  is  known,  of  his  younger  children,  will  be 
given  first,  and  that  of  the  two  twin  brothers,  at  the  close  of  this 
chapter. 

1.  Martha,  married  Thomas  Hewlett,  Feb’y  15,  1769. 

2.  Sarah,  married  John  Clay,  Jr.,  Oct.  14,  1769.  Nothing 
further  known  of  either  of  these. 

3.  Elizabeth,  married  Henry  Cox,  July  29,  1775.  They  had 
a son.  Judge  James  Cox,  of  Chesterfield  county,  who  became  a 
senator  and  otherwise  a prominent  man  ; one  of  his  daughters  is 
now  the  wife  of  General  T.  M.  Logan,  Vice-President  and  Manager 
of  the  corporation  controlling  the  Richmond  & Danville  Railroad. 
Henry  Cox’s  second  wife  was  Mary  Traylor,  1784-1850,  daughter 
of  Archer  Traylor,  son  of  Joseph,  son  of  William,  1674-1753. 

4.  Ann,  married  Wm.  Winfree,  April  5,  1780.  The  husband 
was  killed  by  lightning,  and  the  widow  married  Samuel  Clark.  A 
son  of  this  couple — Wiley  Winfree — became  a member  of  the 
House  of  Delegates  of  Virginia,  and  was  a well  known  and  prom- 
inent man  in  the  state. 

5.  William  was  the  eldest  son.  We  learn  from  tradition 
that  he  was  thrown  from  a horse,  when  a young  man,  and 
killed. 

6.  Miles  was  the  fourth  son.  He  married  Sarah  Mann, 
April  24,  1782,  died  soon  after  and  left  a will  (on  file  in  Amelia 
county),  dated  Oct.  10,  1784,  bequeathing  his  property  to  his 
father-in-law,  Cain  Mann,  and  to  his  wife,  Sarah  Chappell,  7iee 
Mann.  He  left  a good  estate  but  no  children. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHEK  KIKDKED  FAMILIES. 


49 


7.  Abner,  the  fifth  son,  married  Susannah  Moore,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1786.  They  had  a large  family  and  mored  to  Tennessee 
at  an  early  day,  I think  about  1808.  His  wife  died  and  he  mar- 
ried a second  time,  in  that  state.  Three  of  his  sons,  William, 
Wiley  and  Robert,  remained  in  Virginia.  Wiley  was  apprenticed 
to  a cabinet  maker  by  the  name  of  Dejarnette  in  Petersburg.  He 
and  his  brother  Robert  removed  to  Halifax  county,  where  on  Jan- 
uary 12,  1829,  he  married  Harriet  Posey.  Robert  married  in 
Halifax,  his  first  cousin,  Susannah  Hudson  Chappell,  daughter  of 
James  Chappell  of  Halifax.  This  James  was  the  son  of  the  James 
referred  to  at  the  head  of  this  chapter,  who  was  the  son  of  Sarah 
Crawley.  There  were  two  James  Chappells,  first  cousins,  who 
removed  to  Halifax  county  from  Amelia  at  the  close  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  both  were  grandsons  of  Mrs.  Crawley.  Robert’s 
marriage  occurred  January  29,  1824.  They  were  the  parents  of 
Captain  John  A.  Chappell,  killed  in  the  C.  S.  Army  at  the  battle 
of  Winchester.  It  is  not  known  what  became  of  William,  the 
other  brother,  nor  have  we  any  information  of  Abner  Chappell 
after  his  removal  to  Tennessee,  or  of  his  descendants. 

8.  Robert,  the  sixth  and  youngest  son,  married  Peggy, 
daughter  of  Amos  Williamson  in  Amelia,  March  4,  1791,  and 
removed  to  Halifax  and  died  there  July  20,  1806  ; it  is  said  from 
the  effects  of  extracting  a tooth.  He  left  a will,  on  record  in  Hal- 
ifax ; he  had  no  children,  but  bequeathed  his  property  to  his  wife 
during  her  life,  and  after  her  death  to  his  two  nephews,  named 
for  him,  Robert  son  of  Abner,  and  Robert  son  of  James. 

The  dates  given  in  this  chapter,  as  in  most  others  in  this  his- 
tory, are  taken  from  the  records,  and  hence  there  can  be  no  mis- 
take as  to  their  correctness.  Traditions  are  not  always  to  be  re- 
lied on  ; they  sometimes  serve  as  indices,  to  point  out  where  more 
definite  information  may  be  found. 

9.  Dorothy,  was  the  oldest  of  the  two  little  girls  by  the 
second  marriage.  I found  no  record  of  her  marriage  in  Amelia 
county,  but  learn  from  tradition  that  she  married  a man  named 
Watkins,  and  emigrated  to  Tennessee. 

10.  “ Caty,”  so  spelled  in  her  father’s  will,  was  the  youngest 
child  of  James  and  Phoebe  Chappell.  She  was  not  more  than  five  or 
six  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death,  but  grew  to  womanhood. 


50 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  on  July  27,  17^,  married  Peter  Jones  in  Amelia  county. 
Early  in  the  nineteenth  century,  about  1808,  they  emigrated 
to  Tennessee,  and  with  them  went  Caty’s  mother,  who  by  the 
way  never  remarried,  as  she  was  still  a widow  at  that  time. 
Abner  Chappell  and  his  family  went  with  them.  There  was  born 
to  them,  a son,  James  Chappell  Jones,  who  became  a very 
distinguished  man  in  the  early  days  of  Tennessee  ; distinguished 
not  only  as  a statesman,  but  as  a financier  and  business  man  of 
great  ability.  He  was  several  times  a presidential  elector,  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature,  1837-1839,  \vas  elected  governor  of 
Tennessee,  1841,  and  re-elected  in  1843,  defeating  James  K.  Polk. 
He  was  born  in  Davidson  county,  Tennessee,  April  20, 
1809,  but  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Wilson  county.  Removed 

to  Memphis  in  1850,  was  the  first  president  and  promoter  of  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  R.  R.,  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate  in  1852  and  died  in  Memphis  October  29,  1859. 


JAMES  CHAPPELL. 

James,  the  son  of  James  and  Susan  Hudson  Chappell,  and 
his  twin  brother,  John,  were  born  in  Amelia  county  in  1755. 
They  were  the  grandsons  of  Sarah  Crawley  by  her  first  husband, 
Thomas  Chappell.  The  reader  will  have  to  be  exceedingly  care- 
ful if  he  desires  to  keep  these  different  individual  members  of  the 
same  family,  and  of  the  same  names,  distinct  and  separate  in  his 
mind.  There  were  no  middle  names  in  Virginia  at  that  period, 
and  in  fact  it  does  not  seem  to  have  occurred  to  these  old  people 
that  they  could  distinguish  their  children  by  giving  them  middle 
names  until  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  At  the 
period  referred  to,  1760  to  1780,  there  were  no  less  that  four  John 
Chappells,  three  James  and  two  Roberts  in  Amelia  county. 
There  were  the  two  old  men,  John  and  James,  who  were  brothers, 
each  had  a son  John  and  a son  James,  and  there  was  also  a John, 
son  of  Samuel.  The  frequent  occurrence  and  multiplicity  of  these 
family  names  in  the  records,  rendered  it  difficult  to  trace  different 
individuals,  and  to  distinguish  one  from  another.  I am  satisfied 
that  had  it  ever  occurred  to  these  old  people  that  one  of  their 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


51 


descendants  from  the  far  West,  a country  then  unheard  of,  would  in 
a hundred  and  fifty  years  be  engaged  in  poring  over  the  old 
records  of  Amelia  county,  for  the  purpose  of  tracing  their  gene- 
alogy, they  would  have  adopted  some  better  plan  of  distinguish- 
ing their  offspring. 

.James  Chappell  removed  to  Halifax  county  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  with  his  relatives  and  friends.  His  brother, 
John,  remained  in  Amelia.  Both  of  these  brothers  were  soldiers 
of  the  Revolution,  and  I was  told  in  Amelia  that  there  are  yet 
preserved  in  the  family  an  old  powder-horn,  a razor  case,  and  other 
relics,  carried  by  them  through  the  war. 

After  removing  to  Halifax,  he  married  Lucy  Woodson; 
which  occurred  on  January  14,  1790.  She  died  January 

31,  1816,  and  he  died  .January  2,  1826,  aged  71  years.  The  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage,  living  to  maturity,  were  as  follows,  and  the 
order  of  their  births  as  named  : 

1.  Lucy  Ransom,  born  December  5,  1791,  married  John 
Britton,  a Baptist  minister.  Xo  further  information. 

2.  Xancy  Davenport,  bornXovember  7,  1793,  married  Rich- 
ard Oliver.  Issue  ; Lucy,  Betty  and  Sarah.  Lucy  married 

Pool  of  Xorth  Carolina.  Bettie  married Garlington  ; their 

descendants  now  live  at  Snapping  Shoals,  Ga. 

3.  John  Woodson,  born  April  25,  1797,  married  Minerva 
Hendricks.  Only  one  child  living.  Captain  John  H.  Chappell, 
who  was  a gallant  officer  in  the  Confederate  Army.  He  was  born 
September,  1842,  is  a handsome  man  and  in  appearance  the  typical 
Southern  soldier.  I spent  several  hours  with  him  at  his  home. 
He  is  a widower  and  has  four  children,  whose  names  are  Anna, 
.John,  Georgia  and  Lizzie.  James  O.  Chappell,  a brother  of 
John  H.,  wms  also  a captain  in  the  C.  S.  Army.  He  recently  died 
and  left  a widow  and  children.  These  brothers  lived  near  Moun- 
tain Road,  in  the  Xorthern  part  of  Halifax  county. 

4.  Susannah  Hudson,  born  Xovember  8.  1799,  married  her 
cousin,  Robert  A.  Chappell,  son  of  Abner,  of  Amelia,  .January  29, 
1824.  They  had  only  one  child,  a son,  and  separated.  This  son 
was  John  Abner  Chappell.  Xo  divorce  was  sought  or  obtained. 
As  both  were  Chappells  it  is  probable  that  ‘^Greek  met  Greek.” 
There  have  been  few,  in  fact  very  few,  divorces  in  the  family,  and 


52 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


it  is  Strange  that  most  of  these,  so  far  as  I am  informed,  have 
been  where  relations  of  blood  have  married.  The  moral  taught  to 

o 

the  younger  generation  is,  don’t  marry  your  cousin. 

This  son,  John  Abner  Chappell,  was  a young  merchant  in 
Halifax  county  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1861,  became  a 
captain  of  cavalry  in  the  3rd  Virginia  regiment,  C.  S.  Army,  and 
was  killed  while  leading  a charge  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va. 
The  following  graphic  account  of  his  death  is  taken  from  a speech 
made  by  a comrade  at  Black  Walnut  Church,  May  30, 1893,  where 
the  few  lemaining  members  of  his  command,  now  all  veterans, 
met  to  decorate  his  grave,  over  which  a handsome  monument  has 
been  erected.  He  lies  buried  by  the  side  of  his  mother. 

“We  were  ordered  to  capture  a battery  of  artillery  belonging 
to  the  enemy.  What  terrible  odds  confronted  our  little  command! 
Revolvers  were  returned  and  sabers  drawn.  Every  man  was  in 
the  saddle.  That  short  command,  of  only  two  words,  was  given 
in  clear  ringing  tones,  but  the  most  terrible  in  the  English 
language — ‘‘Charge  saber.”  In  this  memorable  charge,  Capt. 

John  A.  Chappell  led  our  command.  It  can  only  be  compared  to 
the  charge  at  Balaklava.  I rode  by  his  side  and  will  never  forget 
his  appearance  as  he  straightened  himself  in  his  stirrups,  his  tall, 
spare,  handsome  figure  reaching  far  above  his  comrades — with  the 
bright  steel  of  his  drawn  saber  glittering  in  the  sunlight — his  teeth 
clinched,  and  every  feature  fixed  with  silent  determination.  It 
was  his  last  charge.  In  the  midst  of  the  terrible  confiict,  in  a per- 
fect hail  of  shell  and  shot,  and  when  almost  at  the  mouth  of  the 
enemy’s  guns,  a ball  struck  him  in  the  center  of  his  breast,  and  he 
fell  senseless  to  the  ground.  We  rode  on,  captured  the  battery  and 
won  a victory,  but  it  was  a victory  dearly  bought.  Many  brave 
men  gave  up  their  lives  that  day,  but  among  them  all,  there  was 
no  braver  or  more  gallant  hero  than  our  noble  young  commander — 
Captain  John  Abner  Chappell.” 

Among  those  who  stood  by  the  grave  of  Capt.  Chappell,  on 
the  30th  of  May,  1893,  was  a lady  of  refined  appearance,  but  of 
sad  and  gentle  face.  Her  eye  w^as  no  longer  bright,  nor  her  hair 
the  color  of  the  raven’s  wing.  This  lady  w'as  the  affianced  bride 
of  John  Abner  Chappell.  For  a third  of  a century  she  had  been  true 
to  the  memory  of  her  young  soldier  lover,  and  had  awaited  in  vain 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


53 


for  the  return  of  “him  who  never  came”.  Capt.  John  Abner 
Chappell  was  raised  and  educated  by  his  uncle,  Major  James  Miles 
Chappell. 

5.  Thomas  Abner  Chappell,  born  May  20,  1801,  married 
Miss  Farmer.  He  became  a well  known  surveyor  in  Halifax 
county  and  died  in  1891,  aged  90.  Issue,  Mary,  William,  James, 
Elizabeth,  and  perhaps  others  whose  names  I have  not  been  able 
to  obtain. 

6.  Major  James  Miles  Chappell,  born  1807,  married  Mary 
Pate  (see  Pate  genealogy).  Removed  to  Alabama  in  1856.  Had 
three  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  former  were  Powhatan, 
Samuel  and  Robert,  all  of  whom  were  killed  in  the  Confederate 
States  army,  leaving  the  name  extinct  in  this  branch.  The 
daughters  were,  Elizabeth,  Susan  and  Lucy.  Elizabeth  married 
Wm.  Sciirlock  of  Texas,  and  Lucy,  Dr  Powell.  For  the  purpose 
of  abbreviating  as  much  as  possible  this  history,  I have  intentionally 
omitted  the  names  of  those  dying  before  maturity  and  without 
issue. 


JOHN  CHAPPELL. 

John,  the  second  son  of  James  and  Susan  (Hudson)  Chappell, 
as  has  been  said,  was  the  twin  brother  of  James,  whose  history  has 
just  been  given.  Unlike  other  members  of  the  family,  he  re- 
mained in  Amelia  couuty,  and  in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  most 
of  his  descendants  yet  live.  James  was  born  in  1755  and  was 
twice  married.  First  to  Dorothy  Ford  on  October  23,  1788,  and 
the  second  time  to  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Charles  Craddock, 
on  April  2,  1800.  He  died  in  September,  1825,  at  the  age  of  70 
years,  and  it  is  a singular  coincidence  that  his  brother  James  died 
wdthin  a few  months  of  the  same  time.  He  and  his  brother  were 
both  soldiers  in  the  Continental  Army.  After  peace  was  declared 
he  settled  down  on  a plantation  given  him  by  his  father,  and 
became,  like  his  ancestors,  a tobacco  planter,  and  amassed  a for- 
tune. A further  account  of  him  will  be  found  in  the  old  manu- 
script, written  by  his  son,  and  added  at  the  close  of  this  chapter. 
But  one  child  was  born  to  John  Chappell  by  his  first  marriage. 


54 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


which  lived  to  maturity.  Her  name  was  Martha.  She  married 
Dr.  Wm.  Vaughn.  I have  no  further  account  of  her.  By  the 
second  marriage  the  following  children  were  born  and  their  births 
were  in  the  order  named:  James,  William  H.,  Elizabeth,  Richard 
G.,  Charles  E.  and  John  Abner. 

1.  James,  born  in  1801,  married  Louisa  Seay,  in  1825,  and 
died  in  1880,  aged  79  years.  He  was  a wealthy  planter  and  lived 
and  died  in  Amelia  county.  He  was  the  author  of  the  old  manu- 
script referred  to,  and  if  for  no  other  reason,  he  should  ever  be 
held  in  grateful  remembrance,  for  thus  preserving  the  traditions 
of  the  family. 

The  issue  of  this  marriage  were: 

I.  Capt.  Alpheus  Montgomery,  married  Mary  Seay,  issue, 
Montgomery,  Charles,  Richard,  Herbert,  George  and 
Mary. 

In  1883,  in  traveling  through  Western  Texas,  I stopped  at 
Wichita  Falls,  then  a frontier  village  and  the  terminus  of  the  rail- 
road. At  the  railroad  eating  house  I found,  waiting  on  the  table, 
a young  lad,  about  twenty  years  old,  and  learned  from  him  that 
his  name  was  Chappell,  and  that  he  was  from  Amelia  county,  Vir- 
ginia; also  that  he  had  a brother  who  was  superintending  the 
kitchen  department  of  the  same  house.  Both  of  these  young  men 
were  handsome,  intelligent  young  fellows,  and  looked  tidy  and 
neat  in  their  white  aprons.  They  told  me  that  they  had  drifted 
westward  until,  becoming  financially  stranded,  they  had  accepted 
the  first  honorable  position  offered,  and  like  true  men,  were  not 
ashamed  to  earn  an  honest  dollar.  I believed  then  that  these  boys 
were  of  the  same  stock  as  myself,  but  of  course  could  trace  no  re- 
lationship. I felt  an  interest  in  them,  however,  and  in  my  semi- 
annual trips  through  the  country,  never  failed  to  enquire  about 
them.  In  a few  years  I found  they  had  discarded  their  white 
aprons,  and  that  one  was  the  superintendent  of  a large  cattle 
ranch  and  could  “rope  a steer”  or  “brand  a maverick”  with  the 
most  expert  cowboy;  the  other  was  the  local  agent  of  the  same 
railroad  by  which  he  had  formerly  been  employed  in  an  humble 
capacity.  Both  were  on  the  high  road  to  success  in  life,  and  I felt 
more  than  ever  convinced  that  they  were  of  the  same  old  Virginia 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIXDRED  FAMILIES. 


00 


family  as  myself.  These  boys  were  Herbert  and  George  Chappell, 
mentioned  above.  Their  father  lives  near  Jetersville,  in  Amelia 
county,  is  a veteran  Confederate  soldier,  and  has  been,  for  thirty 
years,  a great  sufferer  from  a wound  received  in  the  war. 

II.  Henry  Clay  is  the  second  son  of  .James  and  Louisa 
(Seay)  Chappell.  He  married  Amanda  Branch,  in 
Halifax  county.  They  had  one  son,  who  died.  Hen- 
ry Clay  lives  near  Jetersville,  was  a soldier  in  the 
Confederate  States  army  and  connected  with  the 
famous  Libby  Prison. 

III.  Sarah  Elizabeth  was  the  only  daughter  of  James 
Chappell.  Has  been  married  twice  (I)  to  James  O. 
Vaughn  (1843),  (II)  to  Edwin  Flippin.  She  bore  the 
following  children:  Louisa  Rebecca,  Virginia  Book- 
er, Henry  Clay,  Lanen  William,  (killed  in  C.  S. 
Army,)  Iva  and  Eva,  (twins.)  I was  kindly  enter- 
tained by  Mrs.  Flippin,  in  Amelia  county  and  greatly 
enjoyed  the  generous  hospitality  of  herself  and 
beautiful  twin  daughters.  She  is  60  years  old, 
tall  and  spare,  and  has  an  abundant  suit  of  jet 
black  hair,  in  which  there  is  not  a single  silver  thread. 
She  is  a typical  Chappell  of  the  English  type,  as  I 
have  known  them  all  over  the  South  and  West,  and 
no  truer  or  better  women  ever  lived. 

2.  Dr.  AVilliam  H.  Chappell,  was  the  second  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth.  Here  we  have  the  first  instance  of  a double  name  in 
the  family.  The  old  people  had  learned  at  last,  how  to  dis- 
tinguish their  children.  He  was  born  in  1803,  married  Susan 
Jordan  of  Person  county,  X.  C.,  in  1845.  Issue,  William,  Henry, 
Mary  and  Edmonia.  All  of  these  live  in  Buckingham  county, 
Va.  * 

3.  Elizabeth,  married  Rev.  John  Johns.  They  had  no 
children  living  to  maturity. 

4.  Richard  Granville,  was  the  third  son.  Married  Mary  E. 
Bell,  of  Charlotte,  in  1831.  Issue  : 

I.  George,  married  Mary  W.  Foster  ; issue,  Ada,  Rich- 
ard, Henry,  Mary,  Sarah,  Ida,  Annie,  George  and 
Bessie. 


56 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


II.  William,  killed  in  Confederate  States  army. 

III.  John,  married  Emma  E.  Allen. 

ly.  Daniel,  unmarried. 

V.  Henry  Clay,  married  Ann  M.  Smith. 

VI.  Washington,  married  (I)  Cheatham,  (II)  Scott. 

VII.  Thomas,  dead. 

VIII.  Charles,  married  Fanny  Wood. 

IX.  Sallie,  married  James  A.  Allen. 

X.  Bettie,  unmarried. 

All  eight  of  these  brothers  were  soldiers  in  the  Confederate 
army  ; the  youngest,  when  only  16  years  old.  They  were  repre- 
sented in  each  arm  of  the  service — infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery. 
Four  of  them,  viz.  William,  John,  Washington  and  Clay,  were  in 
Pickett’s  memorable  charge  on  Cemetery  Heights,  at  Gettysburg, 
in  1863,  and  three  out  of  the  four  were  seriously  wounded. 
William  was  one  of  the  very  few  who  actually  entered  the  Federal 
entrenchments.  Brave  fellow  that  he  was,  he  received  there  the 
wound  that  ended  his  young  life.  History  records  no  more  daring 
feat  in  warfare  than  this  desperate  charge.  Balaklava  and  Ther- 
mopylae stand  out  alone  on  the  pages  of  history  as  the  equal  in 
valor  and  courage.  All  of  these  children  of  Richard  Granville 
Chappell,  live  in  Charlotte  and  Prince  Edward. 

5.  Charles  Edward,  son  of  John  Chappell,  married  twice  ; 
(I)  Anna  B.  Harwood,  in  1832,  of  Prince  Edward  ; (II)  Melissa 
Watkins,  of  Cumberland  county.  No  children  by  the  first  mar- 
riage are  living.  By  the  second  there  are  the  following  : 

I.  Charles,  married  Mary  Holt. 

II.  Wiley,  married  Elizabeth  Yarbrough. 

III.  Richard,  unmarried. 

IV.  Edmonia,  unmarried.  All  live  in  Prince  Edward 
county. 

6.  John  Abner,  is  the  only  child  now  living  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Chappell.  He  was  born  December  5,  1820,  married 
twice  ; (I)  Virginia  Haskins  (1853)  ; (II)  Lyconia  Yarbrough 
(1888.)  Issue,  by  first  marriage,  one  child,  Alice,  who  married 
James  Wingo.  By  second  marriage,  one  child,  Helen,  born  in 
1893.  In  John  Abner  Chappell,  we  have  the  remarkable  instance 
of  a man  with  two,  and  only  two,  children  ; one  aged  39  years 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


57 


and  the  other,  twelve  months,  and  the  latter  born  when  he  was  73 
years  old.  He  is  an  old  Confederate  veteran  who  lives  in  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  and  is  a man  of  much  more  than  ordinary  intelligence, 
of  unusual  physical  vigor,  and,  for  his  years,  his  memory  is  good 
and  his  mind  unclouded. 

We  are  indebted  to  John  Abner  Chappell,  of  Richmond, 
George  Chappell,  of  Charlotte  and  Clay  Chappell  and  Mrs.  Flip- 
pin,  of  Amelia,  as  well  as  Capt.  John  H.  Chappell,  of  Halifax,  for 
much  of  the  information  given  in  this  chapter.  The  Chappells  in 
Amelia,  Charlotte,  Prince  Edward  and  adjoining  counties,  (and 
there  are  many  of  them,)  are,  I believe,  all  descendants  of  James 
Chappell  of  Amelia  county  ; certainly,  they  are  all  descendants  of 
the  original  Virginia  family.  They  are  generally  farmers  and  yet 
follow  the  specialty  of  raising  line  tobacco.  They  own  their  own 
homes,  and  are  a well-to-do,  industrious,  intelligent  and  honest 
people,  of  the  very  best  class  of  old  Virginian  citizenship,  than 
which  there  is  none  better.  For  a century  and  a half,  the  name, 
Chappell,  has  been  a prominent  one  in  Amelia  county,  and  in  all 
that  long  period,  no  man,  of  the  name,  has  ever  committed  a crime 
or  violated  the  law.  I found  the  name  there  an  honored  one,  and 
without  stain  or  reproach.  In  the  great  Civil  War  of  1861,  so  far 
as  I could  learn,  every  man,  of  military  age,  and  even  many  of  those 
exempt  from  duty,  took  up  arms  and  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
army.  The  record  of  the  names  of  those  who  perished  on  the 
battlefield,  as  given  in  these  pages,  attests  their  loyalty  to  their 
native  state  more  forcibly  than  words  can  express. 

I have  referred  to  an  old  manuscript  in  my  possession,  ob- 
tained in  Virginia,  which  was  written  by  James  Chappell,  the 
grandson  of  James,  son  of  Sarah  Crawley.  There  is  no  date  to  it, 
but  it  is  yellow  with  age,  and  was,  evidently,  written  many  years 
ago.  In  this  paper  are  recorded  the  traditions  and  early  history 
of  the  family,  as  learned  by  the  writer  from  his  father,  and  which 
had  been  transmitted  from  father  to  son.  There  are  some  errors 
in  it,  when  compared  with  the  records  of  Amelia  and  Halifax 
counties,  but  it  is  in  most  respects  correct,  and  serves  to  corrob- 
orate the  data  found  in  the  archives  of  these  counties.  For  this 
reason,  and  as  a curiosity,  I have  seen  proper  to  transcribe  it,  ver- 
batim^ believing  it  will  prove  of  interest  to  the  reader.  The  errors 

5- 


58 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


will  be  noted  by  foot  notes,  and  the  words  enclosed  in  parenthesis 
are  my  own,  and  are  explanatory. 


THE  OLD  MANUSCRIPT. 

“ My  great-grandfather  (Thomas  Chappell)  was  an  * * * §English- 
man,  and  a merchant  in  Petersburg,  Virginia.  At  his  death,  his 
widow  (Sarah)  married  a Crawley,  (William)  and  they  lived  on 
Deep  creek,  in  this  county  (Amelia).  They  brought  with  them 
(from  Prince  George  county,)  three  Chappell  children,  two  fboys 
and  a girl.  My  grandfather  (James)  married  Susan  Hudson,  and 
raised  a large  family  ; six  sons  : William,  John,  James,  Miles, 
Robert  and  Abner.  John  and  James  were  twins.  Of  the  Jthree 
daughters,  Betsy  married  Hall  Cox,  Nancy  married  Winfree, 

(William)  and married  Tom  Howlett.  Winfree  was  killed 

by  lightning  and  his  widow  married  Samuel  Clark.  Judge  James 
Cox,  (of  Chesterfield  county,)  son  of  Hall,  was  a State  Senator, 
and  Wiley,  son  of  Winfree,  was  a member  of  the  House  of  Dele- 
gates. William  Chappell,  my  uncle,  was  killed  when  a young 
man,  by  being  thrown  by  a horse,  against  a tree.  Robert  died 
from  the  effects  of  extracting  a tooth.  He  left  his  fortune  to  his 
two  nephews — namesakes — Robert,  son  of  Abner,  and  Robert,  son 
of  James. 

Miles§  died  early  in  life.  No  particulars  known.  My  grand- 
father’s last  wife  was  a Miss  Archer.  They  had  two  daughters. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  54,  having  not  a defective  tooth  in  his  head. 
My  grandfather’s  brother  ||  (John,)  married  and  had  a family. 
Only  two  sons  now  remembered  by  name.  They  were  Samuel  and 
James.  James  moved  to  Tennessee,  (and  afterwards  to  Texas, 
and  founded  Chappell  Hill,  in  Washington  county,)  and  raised  a 
family.  One  of  his  sons  came  back  to  visit  us  25  years  ago  ; his 
name  was  Humphrey.  Sam  married  and  died  early  in  life,  in  this 

* This  is,  of  course,  a mistake,  but  corroborates  the  statement  that  the  family  is  of 
English  descent. 

t These  two  boys  were  John  and  Joseph,  sons  of  Samuel  Chappell. 

$ There  were  four  daughters,  Martha,  Sarah,  Elizabeth  and  Ann.  The  latter  married 
Wm.  Winfree  and  Martha  married  Thos.  Howlett. 

§ Miles,  married  in  1782,  and  died  in  1784,  (Amelia  records.) 

II  John  was  the  great-grandfather  of  my  generation  and  branch. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


59 


county.  His  daughter  married  a gentleman  named  Backus,  who, 
at  one  time,  kept  the  “Amelia  Springs,”  (a  famous  pleasure  resort 
still  in  Amelia  county,)  and  afterwards  removed  to  the  western 
part  of  the  state  and  kept  a house  of  entertainment  there. 

My  grandfather’s  (James)  sister  married  a Crawley  and  raised 
a family*  They  inherited  a large  fortune.  The  names  of  three 
(of  their)  boys  only  are  remembered.  They  were  Ben,  David  and 
John. 

One  of  the  daughters  of  my  grandfather  by  the  Archer  wife 
(Caty)  married  Peter  Piper  Jones.  When  the  emigration  fever  to 
Tennessee  was  up,  all  went  to  that  state  (1808),  Jones  and  his 
family  and  Abner  and  his  family,  my  grandmother  among  them. 
James  Chappell  Jones  at  one  time  governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
widely  known  as  a senator  in  congress  from  that  state,  was  a son 
of  Peter  Piper.  The  other  daughter  of  my  grandfather  married  a 
Watkins  of  Tennessee.  Abner  Chappell  carried  a large  family  to 
Tennessee,  some  of  them  married,  leaving  one  son,  William,  in 
Virginia.  The  youngest  son,  Wiley,  was  left  with  his  relatives, 
being  an  infant ; he  was  afterwards  bound  to  a cabinet-maker 
named  Dejarnette,  in  Petersburg,  and  after  serving  his  time  re- 
moved and  settled  in  Halifax.  My  father  (John)  married  a Miss 
Craddock,  and  spent  his  life  on  the  plantation  (in  Amelia)  given 
him  by  his  father  (James).  Janies  Chappell  (my  uncle)  moved  to 
the  south  of  Dan  river  in  Halifax  county,  married  a Miss  Wood- 
son  and  had  a large  family.  He  served  through  the  whole  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  as  a regular.  My  father  also  served  in  the 
militia.  My  grandfather  (James)  was  a very  prosperous  man, 
leaving  at  the  time  of  his  death  live  or  six  plantations  and  a line 
mill,  built  by  himself.  Pie  probably  lost  his  life  by  fever  origin- 
ating in  the  mill-pond.  He  bought  a number  of  Africans 
(negroes)  from  a slave  ship,  on  the  coast  of  Virginia,  judging  of 
their  ages  and  health  by  their  teeth,  as  we  do  horses.  He  was  a 
zealous  Church  of  England  man.  His  immediate  descendants  be- 
came Methodists  (1790  to  1800).”  “James  Chappell.” 

* A mistake  as  shown  by  the  will  of  his  mother,  Mrs.  Crawley,  I think  the  niece  of  Mrs. 
Crawley  is  referred  to,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Chappell  and  a sister  of  John 
and  Joseph. 


60 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  IV. 


John  Chappell  of  Amelia,  Son  of  Sarah  Crawley — John 

Chappell  of  Halifax — Children  by  His  Second  Mar- 

RiAGE — The  Dickie  Family. 

The  John  Chappell  referred  to  in  this  chapter  was  my  great- 
grandfather. He  was  the  brother  of  Robert  and  James,  whose 
histories  are  given  elsewhere,  and  the  son  of  Thomas  of  Peters- 
burg, Virginia,  and  his  wife  Sarah,  who  after  his  death  married 
William  Crawley,  and  with  her  children  and  other  relatives  re- 
moved from  Prince  George  to  Amelia  county.  From  the  fact  that 
there  were  several  John  Chappells  living  about  this  time  in  Vir- 
ginia, it  is  necessary  to  be  explicit  in  distinguishing  them, 
although  it  may  appear  to  be  an  unnecessary  repetition.  It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  the  information  that  we  have  of  our  ancestor 
has  been  obtained  solely  from  the  records.  No  tradition  pre- 
served in  the  family  gives  any  account  of  him,  and  I have  been 
able  to  find  his  name  but  once  outside  of  the  records,  and  that 
was  in  an  old  family  Bible. 

John  Chappell  was  born  in  Prince  George  county,  Virginia, 
about  1720,  and  was  26  years  old  when  he,  with  the  family,  re- 
moved to  Amelia  county  in  1746.  He  was  married  at  that  time, 
and  his  wife  was  named  Prudence.  Her  maiden  name  is  un- 
known to  her  descendants,  for,  as  has  been  stated,  the  records  of 
Prince  George  county  were  destroyed,  and  with  them  the  wills 
and  marriage  bonds  of  our  ancestors.  She  was  doubtless  greatly 
beloved  and  respected,  for  the  name  Prudence  became  a family 
name,  and  has  been  transmitted  in  every  succeeding  generation. 
It  is  an  old-fashioned  English  name.  She  died  in  Amelia  in 
March  1778,  three  years  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  left 
an  estate,  which  was  administered  on  by  her  sons  John  and 
Robert.  I found  the  settlements  of  this  estate  in  the  records  of 
that  county. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIKDEED  FAMILIES. 


61 


John  Chappell  died  in  Amelia  county,  Virginia,  in  April, 
1775,  at  the  age  of  55  years.  He  left  a large  estate  in  lands  and 
negroes,  the  most  of  which  he  doubtless  inherited  from  his  father. 
He  seems  to  have  been  a successful  business  man  of  more  than 
usual  intelligence.  The  wealth  and  business  attainments  of  the 
two  brothers,  John  and  James  Chappell,  establishes  the  fact  that 
their  opportunities  in  early  education  and  training  were  far  super- 
ior to  most  men  of  that  day.  Their  father,  the  old  merchant, 
evidently  was  himself  a superior  business  man,  and  not  only  edu- 
cated his  boys,  but  gave  them  unusual  advantages  in  other  respects. 

I found  in  Amelia  county  the  will  of  our  ancestor,  of  which  I 
have  a copy.  It  was  written  September  1,  1774,  and  filed  for  pro- 
bate April  27,  1775.  His  oldest  son,  Robert  Chappell,  and  his 
half  brother,  William  Crawley,  were  his  executors,  and  the  will 
was  witnessed  by  Archer  Johnson,  William  Booth  and  William 
Moore.  In  this  will  his  children  are  mentioned,  and  their  ages  were 
doubtless  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named.  They  were  Robert, 
John,  James,  William,  Samuel  and  Prudence.  Each  child  was  left  a 
tract  of  land  and  seven  or  eight  negroes.  Besides  the  will  I have  also 
a copy  of  the  inventory  of  this  estate,  filed  by  the  executors.  Both 
are  curiosities  when  compared  with  such  documents  of  the  present 
day.  I would  be  glad  to  transcribe  them  entire  did  space  permit. 

In  the  will  the  old  gentleman,  true  to  the  natural  instincts  of 
his  race,  provides,  first,  for  the  payment  of  his  just  debts.  Second, 
for  his  beloved  wife  Prudence  by  lending  her,  during  her  life,  the 
plantation  on  which  he  lived  and  ten  negroes  named  as  follows  : 
“ Spark,  Phillis,  Collar,  Abram,  Jack,  Bob,  Dilly,  Jenny,  Anthony 
and  Sucky;  a part  of  his  horses,  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep,  his 
feather  beds,  kitchen  and  household  furniture,  consisting  of 
chairs,  tables,  pot-racks,  pot-hooks,  iron  and  earthen-ware  and 
pewter,  knives,  spoons  and  forks.”  The  inventory  shows  that  the 
chairs,  tables,  etc.,  were  of  home  manufacture,  and  there  seems  to 
have  been  no  such  article  as  queensware  in  the  house.  All  articles 
of  table  ware  at  that  period  were  made  of  pewter,  an  alloy  con- 
sisting of  tin  and  lead,  with  the  brightness  of  one  and  the  dura- 
bility of  the  other.  This  pewter  ware  was,  of  course,  valuable  at 
that  time,  and  was  bequeathed  in  these  old  wills  as  heirlooms — 
as  silverware  is  now. 


62 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


The  appraisers  of  the  estate  were  David  Crawley,  Abram 
Green  and  Archer  Johnson,  and  their  appraisement  was  filed  May 
25,  1775,  and  covered  several  sheets  of  paper.  It  is  too  lengthy 
to  be  transcribed  entire,  but  I have  copied  an  extract  from  it, 
showing  the  value  of  different  kinds  of  property  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  that  these  values  may  be  compared 
with  those  of  the  ^^resent  time.  The  valuation  was,  of  course,  in 
sterling  money,  that  being  the  currency  at  that  time,  but  I have 
reduced  the  values  to  dollars  and  cents. 


Extract  from  the  Inventory  of  John  Chappell,  Filed  in 
Amelia  County  Virginia,  May  25,  1775. 


NEGROES. 

Collar 

Abram 

Jack 

Dilly 

Phillis 

1  Gray  Horse 

1 Sorrel  Mare 

1 Yoke  Oxen . . , . 

Cattle,  per  head 

Sheep,  per  head 

Hogs,  per  head ' 

4 Feather  Beds 

1 Writing  Desk 

1 Black  Walnut  Table 

1 Pine  Table 

9 Rush  Bottom  Chairs 

5 Deer  Skins 

3 Hides  of  Leather 

10  Reap  Hooks 

3 Guns  and  Bayonets,  each 

3 Guns,  each 

1 Parcel  Pewter  Ware 

8 Knives  and  Forks 

1 Mortar  and  Pestle 

1 Spinning  Wheel 

1 Loom 

1 Gig 

2 Men’s  Saddles 

1 Pair  Money  Scales  and  Weights 
1 Looking  Glass 


£.  S.  d.  DOLLARS. 

75  00  0 363  00 

70  00  0 338  00 

35  00  0 169  00 

25  00  0 121  00 

40  00  0 193  00 

5 00  0 24  20 

25  00  0 121  00 

7 00  0 33  88 

2 5 0 10  90 

6 0 1 44 

7 6 1 82 

36  00  0 143.56  each..  174  24 

5 6 0 25  64 

2 00  0 9 68 

15  0 3 60 

1 5 0 6 04 

1 5 7c  each 34 

3 7 6 16  32 

6 3 1 50 

2 00  0 28  85 

1 5 0 18  12 

2 3 6 10  52 

12  6 3 00 

5 0 1 20 

2 00  0 . 9 70 

4 00  0 19  40 

5 00  0 24  25 

1 5 0 each 12  08 

12  00 

2 40 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


63 


The  total  value  of  the  estate,  not  including  the  negroes 
and  lands,  amounted  to  £800  10s  6d,  equal  in  our  present  cur- 
rency to  13,874.64.  There  were  about  forty  negroes  included  in 
the  inventory  and  several  plantations. 

The  will  is  a model  instrument  from  a legal  point  of  view, 
and  was  skillfully  drawn  in  quaint  language.  Some  of  the  words 
are  now  obsolete,  and  many  others  sound  strange  to  the  modern 
ear.  Evidently  the  testator  intended  to  do  exact  justice  by  his 
wife  and  children,  as  after  his  wife’s  death  the  property  loaned 
her  was  directed  to  be  equally  divided  between  their  children. 
The  word  loaned  was  simply  used  to  express  a dower,  or  life-time 
interest,  in  the  estate.  This  use  of  it  seems  strange  to  us  now,  but 
I found  it  used  in  the  same  sense  in  many  old  wills  written  in  Vir- 
ginia at  this  period.  The  will  also  provided  for  the  education  and 
maintenance  of  the  two  minor  sons,  William  and  Samuel. 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  giving  names  to  his  children  our 
great-grandfather  followed  the  custom  that  had  prevailed  even  then 
in  the  family  for  140  years,  and  which  has  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent generation.  He  gave  each  of  his  six  children  family  names. 
John  was  named  after  himself,  and  the  only  daughter.  Prudence, 
was  named  for  her  mother  ; Robert  and  James  were  named  for 
his  brothers  ; all  of  these  had  been  family  names  for  generations. 
William  was  named  for  his  half  brother,  William  Crawley,  and 
the  youngest,  Samuel,  for  his  uncle.  These  favorite  family 
names  were  limited  in  number,  they  were  John,  James,  Robert, 
Thomas,  Samuel  and  William.  In  tracing  the  family  history  I 
found  the  same  names  connected  with  the  name  ‘‘Chappell”  in  Eng- 
land in  the  sixteenth  century.  May  they  continue  to  be  perpetu- 
ated in  generations  yet  unborn  ! 

JOHN  CHAPPELL  OF  HALIFAX. 

The  name  John  seems  to  have  been  the  favorite  one ’of  all 
others  in  the  Chappell  family  from  their  first  settlement  in  Vir- 
ginia to  the  present  time,  and  is  found  in  every  branch.  It  is  in 
fact  ^ound  so  often  as  to  be  confusing,  and  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
tinguishing different  individuals  of  the  same  name,  I have  added 
the  name  of  the  county  or  state  in  which  they  lived. 


64 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


The  John  Cbappell  now  referred  to  was  my  grandfather. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  John  and  Prudence  Chappell  of  Amelia 
county,  Va.,  and  was  born  in  that  county  in  1752,  and  removed  to 
Halifax  county  with  the  colony  that  removed  there  from  Amelia 
at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  which  included  his 
brothers  and  Crawley  relatives.  Whether  he  was  in  the  army  or 
not  is  not  positively  known.  There  was  a John  Chappell — a ser- 
geant— in  Captain  Thomas  White’s  company,  which  was  enlisted 
in  that  part  of  Virginia,  as  shown  by  the  records,  but  whether  it 
was  he  or  his  cousin  of  the  same  name  cannot  now  be  determined. 
His  cousins,  John  and  James  Chappell,  and  brother  Robert,  were 
certainly  soldiers  in  that  war.  There  was  also  another  Robert,  of 
whom  we  have  an  account,  and  one  Benjamin  Chappell  of  Din- 
widdle, in  the  army  ; but  they  can  not  be  fully  identified.  Ben- 
jamin is  supposed  to  have  been  a son  of  Samuel  of  Prince  George, 
and  a brother  of  John  and  Joseph,  the  latter  the  progenitor  of  the 
Georgia  Chappells. 

Halifax  county  was  organized  in  1752  from  Lunenburg 
county.  The  latter  had  been  taken  from  Brunswick  in  1746, 
which  last  had  been  formed  in  1721  from  Isle  of  Wight  and  Surry 
counties.  Halifax  lies  southwest  from  Amelia  about  seventy-five 
miles.  It  was  a new  country  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and 
the  land  was  fertile  and  especially  adapted  then,  as  it  is  to-day,  to 
the  production  of  the  finest  quality  of  tobacco.  It  was  not  strange 
then  that  the  young  Chappell  brothers  with  their  kindred  and 
friends,  among  whom  were  the  Crawleys,  the  Pates,  Comptons 
and  others,  sought  homes  in  a newer  county.  There  seems  to 
have  been  quite  an  exodus  from  Amelia  to  Halifax  county  about 
this  time.  I found  in  Amelia  among  the  old  records, 
many  names  familiar  to  me  in  my  boyhood  in  Callaway  county. 
Mo.  There  were  the  Bookers,  Watkins,  Tuckers,  Olivers, 
Wades,  Links  and  Keelings,  besides  many  others.  These  same 
names  I also  ran  across  in  my  researches  in  Halifax  county.  It 
was  like  reading  the  epitaphs  on  the  tombstones  in  an  old  grave- 
yard. The  descendants  of  these  same  people — and  no  better  cit- 
izens ever  lived — yet  reside  in  Callaway  county.  Mo.,  their  fore- 
fathers having  been  of  the  colony  that  immigrated  to  Missouri 
from  1835  to  1840. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


65 


I have  been  able  to  obtain  but  little  of  the  history  of  my 
grandfather’s  life,  save  that  gleaned  from  the  records  of  Halifax 
county,  for  he  died  nearly  a century  ago.  The  only  traditions 
preserved  I have  obtained  from  my  cousin,  Mrs.  Johnston  of 
Georgia  (his  granddaughter),  and  Mr.  Henry  Adams  of  Texas. 
The  former,  who  is  a daughter  of  my  aunt,  Susan  Compton,  says 
that  she  remembers,  when  a girl,  hearing  her  mother  say  that  she 
and  her  sister  (Mrs.  Sarah  Wade),  were  accustomed  to  visit  their 
uncle,  Edwin  Garlington,  and  that  their  father’s  plantation  was 
on  the  south  side  of  Dan  river,  and  their  uncle  lived  on  the  oppo- 
site side.  Mr.  Henry  Adams,  now  a very  old  man,  says  that  his 
father  was  a near  neighbor  and  friend  of  my  grandfather’s,  and 
often  spoke  of  him  as  a prominent  man  in  the  county,  and  that  he 
was  a man  of  fine  business  attainments  and  wealth.  These  old 
traditions  may  seem  trivial  and  scarcely  worth  recording,  but  they 
are  all  that  we  have  of  our  ancestor,  who  no  doubt  in  his  day  and 
generation  was  a man  of  prominence,  influence  and  excellent  busi- 
ness habits  ; these  facts  are  well  established  by  the  records  of 
Halifax  county,  Virginia. 

My  grandfather  inherited  from  his  father,  as  shown  by  the 
will  of  the  latter,  considerable  property,  in  lands  and  negroes.  He 
became  a tobacco  planter,  on  his  removal  to  Halifax  county,  and 
located  on  lands  adjoining  those  of  his  brothers  Robert  and  Will- 
iam, in  the  neighborhood  south  of  Dan  river,  near  Black  Walnut. 
The  land  record  books  of  Halifax  show  that  on  March  12,  1781, 
he  bought  from  Stephen  Easley  a large  tract  of  land  on  the  south 
side  of  Dan  river,  for  which  he  paid  £8,125,  in  current  money  of 
Virginia.  This  would  be  equal  to  $39,325.00  in  our  present 
currency.  This  tract  of  land  was  described  by  the  boundaries  of 
adjoining  tracts,  as  was  the  custom  at  that  time.  My  grandfather 
improved  this  tract  of  land,  and  continued  to  live  on  it  until  his 
death  ; it  was  near  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  my  father,  and 
which  he  sold  to  Isaac  Palmer,  on  removing  to  Missouri,  in  1836. 

Many  of  these  old  Virginia  mansions,  built,  some  of  them,  in 
the  last  century,  are  yet  to  be  seen.  The  architecture  seems 
strange,  when  compared  with  that  of  modern  dwellings.  They 
were  substantially  built,  and  comfort  and  durability  were  consulted 
more  in  their  structure  than  ornament. 


66 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


The  first  story  or  basement,  it  might  properly  be  called,  was 
of  brick,  and  contained  two  or  more  rooms  with  low  ceilings.  In 
these  were  stored  winter  vegetables,  fruits,  cider,  and  that  indis- 
pensable beverage  in  all  well  regulated  old  Virginia  families — the 
barrel  of  apple  brandy.  Above  the  basement,  the  building  was 
one  and  a half  stories,  of  frame,  making  the  house  two  and  a half 
stories  high,  for  the  basement  was  really  one  story  and  above 
ground.  The  first  story,  above  the  brick  part,  contained  the  din- 
ing room,  parlors,  pantry,  etc.,  and  the  half  story — with  dormer 
windows — the  bed  rooms.  The  rooms  had  exceedingly  large  fire- 
places, small  windows  and  very  high  mantels.  Between  the  lower 
rooms  was  a wide  hall,  and  in  front  of  the  house,  a portico  or 
veranda.  The  out  houses,  including  the  kitchen — for  this  was 
never  in  the  main  building — smoke  house,  weaving  room,  milk 
house,  etc.,  were  situated  at  convenient  distances  in  the  yard.  The 
row  of  cabins,  for  the  negro  servants,  was  located  at  some  distance, 
but  convenient  to  the  mansion. 

Many  of  these  happy  homes  in  Virginia,  once  the  abode  of 
wealth  and  refinement,  have  gone  to  ruin,  and  one  can  not  see 
them  without  recalling  in  imagination  the  happy  days  that  have 
been  spent  within  their  walls  in  “ye  olden  time.”  Alas!  days  that 
are  never  more  to  return,  for  the  ideal  life  of  independence 
and  happiness  was  that  of  the  Virginia  planter  of  the  last 
century. 

Our  grandfather  seems  to  have  been  a prudent  man,  and  to 
have  purchased  this  valuable  tract  of  land  for  a home,  for  the 
deed  was  made  on  March  12,  and  three  days  after,  on  March  15, 
1781,  he  led  to  the  matrimonial  altar  his  bride,  the  Scotch  lass 
Sarah  Dickie,  daughter  of  John  Dickie.  As  a matter  of  curiosity 
I give  below  the  bond  and  marriage  license,  verbatim  et  literatim. 
I have  the  originals  in  the  handwriting  of  the  parties. 

“March  15,  1781. 

Sir : You  are  hereby  required  to  grant  a license  for  the 

Marriage  of  Jno.  Chappell  and  my  daughter  Sarah  Dickie  as  there 
are  no  objections.  Your  Hble.  Servant, 

John  Dickie,  Sr. 


To  Mr.  H.  Goar,  Clerk.” 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  EAMILIES. 


67 


As  required  by  law,  John  Chappell,  the  prospective  groom, 
then  entered  into  the  following  bond  ; 

“Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we,  Jno.  Chappell  and 
Moses  Johnson,  of  the  county  of  Halifax,  are  held  and  firmly 
bound  unto  his  excellency,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Esq.,  gov- 
ernor of  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia,  or  his  successor  in  office, 
for  the  time  being,  in  the  sum  of  Fifty  Pounds,  current  money  of 
Virginia,  to  which  payment,  well  to  be  made,  we  bind  ourselves, 
heirs,  etc.,  jointly,  severally  and  firmly,  by  these  presents.  Sealed 
with  our  seals  and  dated  this  15th  day  of  March,  A.  D.,  1781. 

'Whereas^  There  is  a marriage  depending  and  by  God’s  per- 
mission suddenly  intended  to  be  solemnized  between  Jno.  Chap- 
pell and  Sarah  Dickie  of  this  county  aforesaid.  Now  the  condi- 
tions of  the  above  obligation  is  such  that  if  there  be  no  lawful 
cause  to  obstruct  the  said  intended  marriage,  then  the  above  ob- 
ligation to  be  void,  else  to  remain  in  full  force. 

John  Chappell,  [ss.] 
Moses  Johnson,  [ss.] 

H.  Goar,  Clerk,  [ss.]” 

The  records  show  several  other  purchases  and  sales  of  lands 
by  John  Chappell  in  Halifax  county,  as  follows  : On  August  19, 

1779,  John  Chappell  of  Halifax  sold  to  John  Irby  of  Charlotte 
157  acres  of  land  for  £450 — 12,178  in  present  currency.  Nov.  4, 
1783,  William  Traylor  gave  bond  for  £2,000  to  make  a deed  to  a 
tract  of  land  sold  to  John  Chappell,  of  350  acres.  John  Dickie 
and  Edwin  Garlington  are  witnesses  to  this  document.  On  July 
15,  1785,  John  Chappell  sold  to  Charles  Olds  of  Amelia,  for  |150 
specie,  a tract  of  land  on  Banister  river. 

My  grandfather  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife,  Sarah 
Dickie,  the  following  children  were  born  : 

Dickie,  born  March  28, 1782. 

Sarah,  born  April  7,  1785. 

Susannah,  born  December  12,  1786. 

John,  born  September  1,  1788. 

Sarah,  the  mother  of  these  children,  died  in  1790;  a further 
account  of  her  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  Dickie 
family. 


68 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


In  1792  my  grandfather  married  a second  time,  the  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Ann,  but  the  name  of  her  family  is  unknown 
to  me.  As  no  marriage  bond  was  found  in  the  Halifax  county 
records  the  marriage  probably  occurred  in  some  adjoining  county. 
By  this  marriage  the  following  children  were  born,  and  their  births 
were  in  the  order  named,  Polly,  Patsy,  Nancy,  Samuel,  Prudence, 
Robert  and  William.  All  of  these  children  lived  to  be  grown 
and  married.  It  will  be  observed  that  four  of  my  grandfather’s 
sons,  viz.,  Robert,  Samuel,  William  and  John,  bore  the  well- 
known  family  names,  the  same  names  that  had  been  perpetuated 
in  every  previous  generation. 

It  had  been  the  almost  invariable  rule  in  Virginia,  especially 
had  it  been  the  custom  in  our  family,  among  those  who  had  prop- 
erty, to  devise  it  at  death,  by  will.  Our  ancestor,  for  some  reason, 
departed  from  this  custom,  and  instead  of  making  a will,  on  the 
20th  of  March,  1807,  executed  what  is  termed  a “deed  of  gift,” 
giving  all  of  his  property,  both  real  and  personal,  embracing  a 
large  estate  in  lands  and  negroes,  to  the  children  by  his  first  and 
second  marriages  equally,  first  providing  for  the  widow’s  dower. 
I have  in  my  possession  a copy  of  this  instrument.  It  is  a well 
written  legal  document  and  is  witnessed  by  Wm.  Murry,  John 
Walsh,  James  Hill  and  John  Adams,  the  last  of  whom  was  the 
brother  of  my  maternal  grandfather — Philip  Adams.  It  seems 
that  this  legal  document  was  presented  at  the  first  term  of  court 
after  its  execution,  and  recorded,  as  shown  by  the  following  en- 
dorsement : 

‘‘At  a court  held  for  Halifax  county,  April  27,  1807,  the 
within  Deed  of  Gift  was  proven  by  the  oaths  of  three  witnesses 
thereto  subscribed,  to  be  the  act  and  deed  of  the  within  named 
John  Chappell,  party  thereto,  and  ordered  to  be  recorded. 

Teste  : John  Wimbush, 

[ss.]  Clerk.” 

While  the  deed  was  recorded  within  a few  days  after  its  ex- 
ecution, my  grandfather  did  not  die  until  five  years  afterwards,  or 
until  July,  1812.  This  method  of  disposing  of  an  estate  was  an  un- 
usual one  ; what  the  object  was  is  not  now  known  to  his  descend- 
ants ; that  it  was  for  some  good  purpose  is  to  be  presumed  ; that 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


69 


it  was  a fair  and  equitable  arrangement  is  evident,  for  there  was 
no  discrimination  between  his  children. 

Within  a short  time  after  my  grandfather’s  death,  to- wit  : 
on  July  17,  1812,  my  father,  John  Chappell,  his  youngest  son  by 
his  first  marriage,  and  Richard  E.  Bennett  were  granted  letters  of 
administration  on  the  personal  estate.  They  settled  up  the  estate 
and  made  their  final  settlement  in  1817.  I observed  in  looking 
over  these  settlements  that  the  first  (made  in  1813)  was  in  Eng- 
lish currency  (pounds,  shillings  and  pence),  the  last  was  made  in 
dollars  and  cents.  The  change  from  the  former  system  of  cur- 
rency to  the  present  must  have  occurred  just  at  this  time. 


CHILDREN  OF  JOHN  CHAPPELL  BY  HIS  SECOND 

MARRIAGE. 

I have  been  able  to  obtain  but  little  information  of  the  chil- 
dren of  our  grandfather  by  his  second  wife.  They  were  all  born 
between  1794  and  1807,  and  on  coming  to  maturity  all  married 
and  emigrated  to  Tennessee  or  Kentucky.  The  information  I 
have  been  able  to  obtain  is  given  below,  and  their  names  will  be 
given  in  the  order  of  their  ages. 

1.  Polly,  married  — — McCarty,  and  among  other  children 
had  one  daughter  named  Nancy,  who  married  Samuel  Banks. 
They  lived  in  Davidson  county,  Tenn.,  in  1835,  afterwards  emi- 
grated to  Lafayette  county.  Mo.,  and  about  1859  returned  to 
Tennessee.  Samuel  Banks  was  a very  wealthy  man  and  owned  a 
great  many  slaves.  He  had  a large  family,  among  whom  were 
three  sons,  Marvin,  William  and  Frank,  whom  I knew  personally  ; 
the  two  latter  were  my  classmates  at  the  University  of  Missouri. 
They  were  unusually  handsome  and  intelligent  young  men,  and 
no  family  in  Missouri  ever  occupied  a higher  social  position  than 
that  of  Samuel  Banks.  William,  who  became  a physician,  is 
dead.  Marvin  lives  near  Columbia,  Mo.,  and  Frank  in  Nashville, 
Tenn. 

2.  Patsy,  married  and  removed  to  Tennessee.  I do  not 
know  the  name  of  the  man  whom  she  married  or  what  became  of 
her. 


70 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


3.  Nancy,  married  a man  named  Uree,  and  removed  to 
Tennessee.  Nothing  further  is  known  of  her. 

4.  Samuel,  married  and  emigrated  to  Christian  county,  Ky. 
He  was  a great  hunter  and  by  instinct  a pioneer,  and  spent  his 
life  on  the  frontier.  He  died  in  Ballard  county,  Ky.,  and  left  a 
family  there. 

5.  Prudence,  married  Richard  W.  Bugg.  They  settled  in 
Trigg  county,  Ky.,  where  he  died  ; his  widow  and  children  removed 
to  Ballard  county,  in  that  state.  His  oldest  son  was  Z.  W.  Bugg, 
who  became  a prominent  lawyer  in  that  county,  and  had  a son  John 
Bugg,  now  a member  of  the  bar  of  Bardwell,  Carlisle  county,  Ky. 

6.  Robert,  married  in  Virginia,  and  about  1830  emigrated 
to  Todd  county,  Ky.,  and  from  there  removed  to  Owen  county. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Brown,  and  there  were  horn  to  them  several 
children,  among  whom  was  a son,  Robert,  the  father  of  Dr.  Wil- 
liam E.  Chappell,  a prominent  and  successful  young  physician 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo.  It  is  said  other  members  of  the  family 
removed  to  Indiana  and  settled  near  Lebanon. 

7.  William  was  the  youngest  son.  He  emigrated  to  Mis- 
souri about  1830,  and  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Major 
Horner,  of  Randolph  county,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  a daugh- 
ter named  Mary.  He  visited  my  father  in  Callaway  county  in  1851, 
and  I remember  him  as  a tall,  handsome  man.  He  had  been  of  a 
roving  disposition,  had  traveled  a great  deal,  seen  much  of  the 
world  and  was  an  entertaining  conversationalist.  Fortune  threw 
my  cousin  Mary  and  I much  together  in  after  years.  She  married 
Logan  D.  Dameron,with  whom  I became  associated  in  business  and 
who  was  my  life-long  friend.  He  became  a well  known  business 
man  and  capitalist  of  St.  Louis,  and  was  at  one  time  manager  of  the 
St.  Louis  Christian  Advocate.  My  cousin  was  a beautiful  woman, 
and  possessed  a cultivated  mind,  a refined  nature  and  a devout 
Christian  character,  which  endeared  her  to  all  who  knew  her. 
There  was  but  one  child  born  of  this  union,  a son — Edward  C. 
Dameron — now  a successful  business  man  of  St.  Louis,  and 
perhaps  the  wealthiest  member  of  any  branch  of  the  family  now 
living.  He  married  Miss  Tootle.  Logan  D.  Dameron  died  in 
1892,  and  it  was  for  him  that  my  only  son  was  named.  His  wife 
died  in  1865. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIXDRED  FAMILIES. 


71 


It  is  a siagular  fact,  and  illustrates  how  numerous  and  scat- 
tered have  become  the  different  branches  of  our  famiiy,  that  there 
are  living  to-day  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  representatives  of  five  sep- 
arate and  distinct  branches,  unknown  to  each  other,  but  all  of 
whom  are  lineal  descendants  of  John  and  Prudence  Chappell  of 
Amelia  county  in  the  colony  of  Virginia.  They  are  Mrs.  Amanda 
Shobe,  of  the  Wade  branch;  Mrs.  Alice  Davis,  wife  of  Judge 
Alex.  Davis,  of  the  Missouri  branch  ; Edward  C.  Dameron,  Rev. 
Edwin  B.  Chappell  and  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  A.  Holland.  All  of 
these  are  of  the  tenth  generation  of  the  Chappell  family  in  Amer- 
ica, and  of  the  fifth  generation  in  direct  line  from  John  Chappell 
of  Amelia.  They  are  therefore  his  great-great-grandchildren. 

We  have  in  Dr.  Robert  A.  Holland  an  illustration  of  the  per- 
petuation of  our  family  names.  His  name — Robert — a favorite 
one,  has  come  down  to  him  from  his  forefathers  for  twelve  gener- 
ations, in  fact  from  Robert  Chappell  of  England — the  first  of  the 
Chappells  of  whom  we  have  authentic  knowledge,  and  who  lived 
about  1550 — 350  years  ago.  There  is  but  little  doubt  that  his 
name  has  been  transmitted  from  generation  to  generation  through 
this  long  period. 


THE  DICKIE  FAMILY. 

The  Dickies  were  Scotch  people,  and  the  first  information  we 
have  of  them  is  taken  from  the  land  records  of  Virginia,  yet  pre- 
served in  the  Capitol  at  Richmond.  Michael,  James  and  John 
Dickie,  brothers  no  doubt,  received  grants  of  land  from  the  crown 
between  1746  and  1760.  The  latter,  John,  was  our  ancestor,  and 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  the  generation  and  line  of  Chappells 
from  which  I am  descended,  as  also  of  the  Garlington  family. 

The  land  patented  to  John  Dickie  was  on  Moorefield  creek, 
in  Lunenburg  county,  Virginia,  from  which  Halifax  was  formed 
in  1752.  There  are  good  reasons  to  believe  that  his  brothers  also 
located  in  the  same  county,  but  no  search  of  the  records  was  made 
either  in  Halifax  or  Amelia  counties  for  their  names.  On  October 
17,  1786,  Robert  Dickie,  perhaps  a nephew  of  John,  for  he  was 
not  a son,  married  Rebecca  Coleman  French,  in  Amelia.  In  the 
Halifax  records  was  found  the  marriage  of  John  Terry  Colquitt 


72 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


to  Ailsie  Dickie  on  July  26,  1786.  She  was  probably  a niece  of 
John  Dickie,  and  named  after  her  aunt.  A daughter  of  this 
couple  married  James  Garlington,  and  there  is  good  ground  for 
the  belief  that  United  States  Senator  Colquitt  of  Georgia*  was  a 
descendant  of  John  T.  Colquitt.  The  records  also  show  the  mar- 
riage of  John  Tucker  to  Ailsie  Chappell  on  October  7,  1809.  She 
was  probably  another  relative  of  Ailsie  Dickie.  We  find  these 
names,  but  who  is  there  can  now  tell  who  they  were  ? 

The  name  Ailsie  is  peculiarly  a Scotch  name,  and  a very  un- 
common one.  John  Dickie  was  married  to  her  before  coming  to 
Halifax  county,  probably  in  Scotland.  Her  maiden  name  or  his- 
tory is  unknown  to  her  descendants. 

John  Dickie  was  born  about  1720.  He  was  a young  man 
when  he  immigrated  to  America,  about  30  or  35  years  old.  He 
died  in  Halifax  county  in  June,  1785,  aged  65  ; his  wife  died 
within  a year.f  While  he  left  a large  estate,  contrary  to  the 
usual  custom,  he  left  no  will.  His  oldest  son,  John,  was  granted 
letters  of  administration  on  July  5,  1785,  and  filed  his  inventory 
on  the  21st  of  July.  The  personal  property,  exclusive  of  slaves 
and  lands  (and  there  were  32  negroes),  inventoried  £1,010  19s  6d, 
or  about  |5,000.  Included  in  the  inventory  were  twelve 
hogsheads  of  tobacco,  and  the  sale  bill  shows  that  this  tobacco 
sold  at  from  £13  to  £20  per  hogshead,  or  about  |65  to  $100,  which 
would  be  six  to  eight  cents  per  pound. 

The  land  record  books  of  Halifax  county  show  many  trans- 
actions in  real  estate  made  by  John  Dickie,  and  that  he  was  a large 
landholder  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  largest  transaction  ob- 
served was  a sale  on  October  1,  1778.  of  542  acres  to  his  son  John, 
for  £3,000,  an  amount  equal  to  about  $15,000  in  the  present  cur- 
rency. The  final  settlement  of  his  estate  was  made  in  1792,  and 
in  this  settlement  the  names  and  ages  of  all  of  his  sons,  daughters 
and  sons-in-law,  excepting  the  age  of  John,  are  given.  These 
children  were  : 

Susannah,  married  Edwin  Garlington. 

Sarah,  married  John  Chappell. 

Elizabeth,  married  William  Chappell. 

John  and  William,  sons. 


* Died  in  1894. 

t She  was  59  years  old  and  was  born  in  1724. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


73 


Susannah  was  born  January  12,  1755,  married  Edwin  Gar- 
lington  November  13,  1774,  and  died  in  Halifax  county,  Virginia, 
December  3,  1795,  aged  40  years.  An  account  of  her  and  her  de- 
scendants is  given  in  the  Garlington  history. 

Sarah  was  the  second  daughter;  she  was  born  in  1760,  mar- 
ried John  Chappell,  my  grandfather,  March  15,  1781,  and  died  in 
Halifax  county  in  1790,  aged  30  years.  For  a further  account  of 
her  and  her  descendants,  refer  to  the  history  of  John  Chappell  of 
Halifax. 

Elizabeth  was  the  youngest  of  the  “three  Scotch  sisters.”  She 
was  born  Nov.  27,  1765,  and  was  twice  married.  First  to  William 
Chappell,  son  of  John  and  Prudence,  who  became  the  progen- 
itor of  the  Tennessee  branch  her  second  husband  was  Thomas 
Hull  Crawley.  She  lived  for  many  years  near  Black  Walnut  in 
Halifax  county,  and  removed  in  1832,  at  the  aged  of  68  years,  ta 
Tennessee  with  her  son,  where  she  died  June  3,  1844,  aged  79. 

John  Dickie,  Jr.,  was  the  oldest  son  of  his  parents,  and 
doubtless  possessed  superior  business  attainments,  for  he  became 
a successful  and  wealthy  man.  The  year  of  his  birth  is  unknown. 
He  was  twice  married  ; no  record  was  found  in  Halifax  county  of 
his  first  marriage,  nor  is  the  name  of  his  first  wife  now  known  ta 
his  descendants,  so  far  as  I can  learn.  The  Halifax  records  show 
his  marriage  to  his  second  wife,  whose  name  was  Patsy  Vaughn, 
on  April  3,  1788.  By  his  first  wife  the  following  children  were 
born,  whose  ages  were  in  the  order  named:  William,  John  and 

Sarah.  By  the  second  wife  ten  children  were  born,  whose  names 
were  as  follows  (their  ages,  however,  may  not  have  been  in  the 
order  in  which  they  are  named):  Craddock,  Willis,  Nancy,  Susan- 
nah, Mary,  Parthena,  Malinda,  Martha,  Mourning  and  Thomas. 
There  was  also  a young  son,  James,  Avho  was  thrown  from  ahorse 
and  killed,  t Between  1800  and  1810,  John  Dickie  removed  with 
his  family  to  South  Carolina  and  located  in  Spartan sburg  district 
(now  county),  and  there  improved  a fine  plantation,  where  he  lived 
out  his  days.  He  died  in  1813,  and  his  wife  died  soon  thereafter. 
She  is  said  to  have  been  a “large,  fleshy  woman  with  a very  pretty 
face.”  His  nephew,  John  Garlington,  became  his  administrator 


* See  history  of  the  Tennessee  branch, 
t James  was  a son  by  the  first  marriage. 
—6 


74 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OP  THE 


and  made  a final  settlement  of  the  estate  in  1817.  From  these  set- 
tlements, yet  preserved,  and  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  R.  W. 
Simpson  of  Pendleton,  S.  C.,  the  names  of  his  children  have  been 
obtained.  The  children  of  the  first  marriage  remained  in  Halifax 
<?ounty,  and  did  not  remove  to  South  Carolina  with  their 
father. 

1.  William,  was  the  oldest  child.  On  November  22,  1816, 
he  married  Patsy,  or  Martha,  daughter  of  Robert  Chappell,* 
son  of  John  and  Prudence,  and  who  was  the  oldest  brother  of 
John  and  William.  In  1817  he  receipted  to  John  Garlington  for 
his  interest  in  his  father’s  estate.  We  have  trace  of  him  again  in 
February,  1828,  when  he  visited  his  relatives  in  South  Carolina. 
There  were  three  children  born  of  this  marriage.  They  were  all 
daughters,  and  their  names  were  Ann  Prudence,  Mary  Robert,  and 
Ursula  Hamblet.  All  of  these  are  long  since  dead,  and  I learned 
in  Halifax  county  that  there  are  now  living  only  two  descendants 
of  these  daughters  ; they  are  James  and  William  Olds  of  Halifax. 
There  were  no  sons  to  perpetuate  the  name  “Dickie”  in  this  branch. 
William  Dickie  lived  to  be  about  80  years  old.  He  was  prob- 
ably born  about  1780,  and  died  about  1860,  in  Halifax  county, 
Va. , and  is  well  remembered  by  persons  yet  living.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  a very  just  and  upright  man,  and  much  respected  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lived. 

2.  John  was  the  second  son.  He  married  Mary  Parker  in 

Halifax  county  in  1808,  and  is  referred  to  in  his  brother  William’s 
letter  to  Jordan  Compton,  written  November  10,  1828,  in  which 
he  says  : “John  Dickie  has  ten  children,  and  has  lately  moved  to 

Forked  Deer.”*  This  is  the  name  of  a river  in  the  western  part  of 
Tennessee,  flowing  through  Dyer  county  and  emptying  into  the 
Mississippi  river  above  Memphis,  and  there  was  a “settlement”  on 
it  at  an  early  day  called  the  “Forked  Deer  settlement.” 
After  a diligent  investigation,  I have  been  able  to  find  no  evi- 
dence that  John  Dickie,  or  any  of  his  descendants,  ever  lived  in 
that  part  of  the  state,  and  certainly  a man  with  ten  children 
should  have  left  some  trace  of  his  name.  My  impression  is  he 
removed  in  1828  from  Virginia,  probably  to  Tennessee,  and  from 
there  to  Alabama,  for  Mrs.  Simpson  has  in  her  possession  two 

* See  history  of  Robert  Chappell  of  Halifax, 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KIKDRED  EAAIILIES. 


( 0 


letters  written  by  Willis  Dickie,  in  September,  1849,  in  which 
he  refers  to  his  brother  John,  and  says,  ‘‘he  is  soon  to  remove  to 
Texas.*’  These  letters  were  written  at  Talladega,  Ala.  There 
is  a family  of  Dickies  living  in  the  northern  part  of  Texas,  who 
are  descendants  of  our  ancestor,  .John  Dickie,  Sr.  They  are  also 
probably  the  descendants  of  his  grandson,  the  John  Dickie 
referred  to. 

3.  Sallie,  m.  Claiborn  Rice.-  They  were  living  in  Halifax 
county  in  1817.  Nothing  further  is  known  of  them. 

4.  Xancy,  m.  William  Crymes.  Issue  : John,  George,  Will- 
iam, Thomas,  Eliza,  Martha,  and  Mary  Ann.  Martha  m.  .J.  L. 
Westmoreland,  who  is  yet  living  at  86  years  old,  at  Locust,  S.  C. , 
a remarkably  well  preserved  man. 

5.  Susannah,  m.  Starling  L.  Westmoreland.  Issue  : .John, 
William,  Ransom,  Mary,  Martha,  Rachel  and  Xancy. 

6.  Malinda,  m.  William  Ford.  Issue  : Martha,  Xancy  and 
John. 

7.  Craddock,  m.  Cassandra  Ford.  Issue  : .John,  William, 
Washington  and  Edward.  This  branch  emigrated  to  Alabama  in 
1841. 

8.  Thomas,  m.  and  died,  leaving  one  child. 

9.  Mary,  m.  Edward  Hix.  Issue  : Edward,  Preston,  .Jesse 

and  Martha,  who  married Wilkes  of  Charlotte,  S.  C.  Preston 

lives  in  the  city  of  Xew  York. 

10.  Parthena,  m.  Robert  Sanders.  Issue  : two  sons. 

11.  Patsy,  m.  Clough  Meng.  Xo  issue. 

12.  Willis,  m.  Margaret  Crooks.  Issue  : .John,  Willis, 
Eliza  and  Martha.  The  family  removed  to  Texas,  where  the 
father  died  near  Austin. 

13.  Mourning,  m.  Hosea  Lindsey.  Issue  : Andrew,  John, 
George,  Thomas,  Ephraim,  Martha,  Susan,  Mary,  Margaret  and 
Xancy.  The  family  removed  to  Asheville,  X.  C. 

All  of  the  children  of  John  Dickie  of  South  Carolina  are 
dead,  but  many  of  his  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren  are 
living ; most  of  whom  live  in  Spartansburg,  Laurens  and  ad- 
joining counties  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  state. 

John  and  Ailsie  Dickie,  had  a younger  son  whose  name  was 
William.  He  is  mentioned  in  the  settlement  of  his  father’s 


76 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


estate,  but  I have  been  able  to  find  no  trace  of  him  or  his  descend- 
ants. It  is  believed  that  he  married  and  removed  to  Person 
county,  N.  C.  The  name  “Dickie”  is  often  found  on  the  tomb- 
stones in  the  old  cemeteries  in  that  county,  but  there  are  none  of 
the  name  now  living  there,  and  these  old  monuments  are  the  silent 
witnesses  ; and  bear  the  only  evidence  of  their  former  existence — 
the  line  is  perhaps  extinct. 

The  name  “Dickie”  has  ever  been  held  in  high  esteem  by  the 
descendants  of  the  Chappell-Dickie  families,  and  there  has  been  no 
branch  that  has  not  perpetuated  it,  until  it  has  become  so 
blended  with  that  of  “Chappell,”  that  the  two  are  inseparable. 
There  has  been  a “Dickie  Chappell”  in  every  generation 
and  every  branch  of  this  line  for  more  than  a century. 
Like  the  name  Dickie,  the  given  names  of  the  “three  Scotch 
sisters,”  Susannah,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth,  to  whose  sacred  memory 
this  book  has  been  dedicated,  have  been  revered  and  transmitted 
to  their  children  and  their  children’s  children  to  the  present  time. 
When  a child  I had  a sister,  who  was  very  dear  to  me,  who  bore 
the  name  “Susannah.”  She  was  called  “Sue,”  my  father  alone 
declining  to  adopt  the  abbreviation.  I thought  it  then  an  odd, 
old-fashioned  name,  and  wondered  why  it  was  given  her.  My 
father  and  sister  have  long  since  passed  away,  but  I can  under- 
stand now  the  strong  attachment  my  father  must  have  had  for  the 
names  and  traditions  of  his  family,  when  he  named  his  favorite 
daughter  “Susannah.”  These  noble  old  women  were  true  wives 
and  mothers,  and  each  bore  her  husband  a large  family  of  chil- 
dren. Their  descendants  are  now  numbered  by  hundreds,  and 
are  scattered  all  over  the  Southern  and  Western  states.  They  have 
been  a law-abiding  people,  an  honor  to  their  ancestors  and  race, 
and  wherever  they  are  found  they  come  fully  up  to  the  standard 
of  the  highest  type  of  American  citizenship. 

There  is  but  little  doubt  that  to  the  traits  of  character  inher- 
ited from  our  old  Scotch  ancestor,  John  Dickie,  we  are  chiefly  in- 
debted for  whatever  of  energy,  industry  and  thrift  we,  his  de- 
scendants, possess.  The  Scotch,  as  a nation,  have  been  proverbial 
for  thrift,  integrity  and  energy,  and  none  have  stood  higher  in 
the  commercial  history  of  the  world.  The  descendants  of  John 
Dickie  seem  to  have  inherited  these  national  traits  in  a marked 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


i i 

degree,  for  wherever  their  lot  has  been  cast,  they  have  been  and 
are  a commercial  class,  and  as  merchants,  bankers,  financiers  and 
business  men,  have  in  every  generation  and  every  branch,  devel- 
oped superior  ability,  resulting,  generally,  in  successful  lives. 


78 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  V. 


JOHN  CHAPPELL,  OF  MISSOURI. 

The  John  Chappell,  whose  history  is  written  in  this  chapter, 
was  my  father,  and  was  of  the  third  generation,  in  succession,  of 
the  name.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Dickie)  Chappell, 
and  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  Va.,  September  1,  1788.  I have 
learned  but  little  of  the  history  of  his  life  until  he  attained  his 
majority.  His  mother  had  died  in  his  early  childhood,  and  his 
father  soon  thereafter  marrying  a second  time,  he  never  knew  a 
mother’s  love  or  care,  for  he  was  the  youngest  child  by  his  father’s 
first  marriage.  He  but  seldom  referred  to  this  period,  in  his  long 
and  eventful  life.  It  was,  perhaps,  not  the  most  pleasant,  for  in 
early  youth  he  began  to  fight  life’s  battle  alone. 

The  facilities  for  acquiring  an  education  in  Virginia  at  this 
early  period  were  very  meager,  indeed  ; there  were  but  few 
colleges  or  universities  in  the  country,  and  they  were  accessible 
only  to  the  sons  of  the  very  rich.  My  father’s  early  education  was 
limited,  but  he  possessed,  naturally,  a strong  mind,  was  ambitious, 
resolute  and  full  of  youthful  energy,  and  soon,  by  dint  of  his  own 
exertions,  made  up  the  deficiencies  of  his  early  education.  His 
mind  was  of  a mathematical  turn,  and  naturally  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  studies  in  that  direction,  and  became,  early  in  life,  a pro- 
fessional land  surveyor  and  civil  engineer  ; he  also  early  developed 
into  a very  successful  and  intelligent  business  man. 

From  my  own  observations  in  life,  I have  been  taught  to  believe 
that  to  be  thrown  early  on  one’s  own  resources  develops  those  traits 
of  character  which  go  to  make  up  the  successful  man,  and  hence 
this  is  not  always  a misfortune,  although  it  may  seem  to  be  so  at 
the  time.  The  greatest  men  the  world  has  produced  have  had 
meager  or  no  opportunities  in  their  early  youth. 

Physically,  my  father  was  of  medium  size.  He  weighed 
about  160  pounds  and  carried  not  an  ounce  of  surplus  fiesh.  His 
height  was  5 feet  10  inches.  He  had  black  hair,  a dark  complexion 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


79 


and  blue  eyes.  He  possessed  great  energy  and  industry,  had 
inherited  a strong  constitution,  was  temperate  in  his  habits,  led 
always  an  active  life  and  was  careful  of  his  health  ; hence  was 
never  known  to  be  sick  a day  until  his  last  illness.  He  was  quiet 
and  peaceable  in  disposition,  but  quick  of  temper,  and  a man  of 
unquestioned  nerve  and  personal  courage.  He  possessed  a large 
fund  of  humor  and  had  fine  social  qualities,  enjoyed  the  society  of 
his  friends,  and  no  one,  more  than  he,  enjoyed  a good  joke  or 
an  amusing  anecdote. 

He  was  self-reliant  and  very  methodical  in  his  habits,  and  never 
left  anything  incomplete.  It  was  his  custom  to  investigate  fully 
and  thoroughly  weigh  every  business  proposition  before  acting  upon 
it.  When  his  plans  of  action  were  matured,  he  would  use  every 
effort  to  carry  them  out,  and  generally  succeeded.  On  his  death- 
bed he  called  me  to  him,  and  said  : “My  son,  I am  going  to  die  ; 
you  will  have  grave  responsibilities  resting  on  you.  Get  all  the 
advice  you  can  ; thoroughly  inform  yourself  ; then  be  governed  by 
your  own  judgment.”  I have  found  this  good  advice. 

When  a boy,  he  became  a clerk  in  a country  store  in  Virginia, 
thus  developing,  early,  a taste  for  commercial  pursuits,  inherited, 
perhaps,  from  his  Scotch  mother.  He,  in  after  years,  became  him- 
self, a merchant  in  both  Virginia  and  Missouri.  This  predilec- 
tion for  a commercial  life  is  referred  to  elsewhere  as  being  well 
defined  among  the  descendants  of  the  Dickies,  many  of  whom 
became  commercial  men — bankers  or  merchants.  He,  however, 
did  not  long  continue  a clerk,  but  soon  began  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  became  a dealer  and  trader  in  fine  horses  between 
Virginia  and  Tennessee,  the  latter  then  a new  country.  He  located 
in  Smith  county,  Tennessee,  in  1810,  where  some  of  his  relatives 
had  preceded  him,  and  remained  there  two  years,  returning  to 
Halifax  county,  Virginia,  on  the  death  of  his  father  in  1812,  for 
the  purpose  of  settling  up  his  estate,  of  which  he  was  administra- 
tor. 

On  November  10th,  1814,  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Mathew  Pate,  a wealthy  planter  of  Halifax  county,  who  is  referred 
to  in  the  history  of  the  Pate  family.  The  children  born  of  this 
marriage,  who  lived  to  maturity,  were  Ann  B.,  Sarah  D.,  John 
A.,  Granville  T.  and  Mary  Susannah,  whose  births  were  in  the 


80 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


order  named,  and  a sketch  of  the  life  of  each  of  whom  is  given  in 
this  chapter. 

In  1817  he  became  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Hali- 
fax county,  under  the  firm  name  of  “John  Chappell  & Co.”  ; who 
his  partner  was,  I do  not  know,  but  the  merchant’s  license  is  still 
a matter  of  record  in  that  county.  We  next  find  him  a tobacco 
planter,  located  on  a plantation  in  the  same  neighborhood,  with  his 
relatives,  on  the  south  side  of  Dan  river,  in  Halifax,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  removal  to  Missouri,  in  1836.  I visited 
this  old  home  during  my  recent  trip  to  Virginia,  and  have  de- 
scribed it  on  another  page  ; it  has  gone  greatly  to  decay,  but  still 
bears  evidence  of  having  once  been  a fine  farm  and  splendid 
home. 

About  1820  he  was  elected  county  surveyor  of  Halifax  county, 
and  continued  in  that  office  for  several  years  ; subsequently,  he 
became  Commissioner  of  Revenue,  in  the  same  county.  These 
positions  gave  him  an  extensive  acquaintance  and  prominence  in 
the  county,  and  he  is  yet  remembered  by  many  of  the  older  citi- 
zens, whom  I met,  as  an  exceedingly  bright  business  man,  and 
upright  and  honest  in  his  dealings  with  others.  His  work  and 
calculations  as  surveyor  are  preserved  in  the  old  county,  and  Capt. 
French,  the  present  surveyor,  showed  me  some  of  his  maps  and 
surveys,  and  told  me,  that  in  all  the  time  he  had  been  in  office, 
he.  had  never  found  an  error  in  reviewing  the  work  done  by 
him. 

I have  referred  elsewhere  to  a special  characteristic  of  the 
Chappells — their  superior  penmanship.  My  father  was,  I think, 
the  neatest  and  best  penman  I ever  knew.  He  wrote  a small,  del- 
icate hand,  almost  feminine  in  appearance,  but  every  letter  was 
perfectly  formed,  and  his  writing  resembled  the  finest  steel  en- 
graving. It  is  said  by  those  living,  and  I have  also  heard  him 
say,  that  in  his  younger  days,  when  his  eyesight  was  perfect,  he 
had  written  the  Lord’s  prayer  complete,  on  a piece  of  paper  the 
size  of  an  ordinary  thumb  nail.  When  a boy  I was  taught  by  him 
the  use  of  the  compass  and  table  of  logarithms,  and  have  many  of 
his  old  plats,  maps  and  calculations,  all  showing  the  most  pains- 
taking accuracy  and  neatness  of  execution.  The  knowledge  of  the 
walue  of  land,  and  how  to  judge  of  its  soil  by  the  growth  of 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


81 


timber,  acquired  as  a surveyor,  doubtless  became  of  great  benefit  to 
him  in  after  years,  when  on  removing  to  Missouri  he  became  a 
large  land  owner. 

On  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  my  mother — Mary 
F.  Adams,  the  daughter  of  Philip  Adams,  a well-to-do  planter  of 
Prince  Edward  county,  Virginia.  Their  marriage  occurred  on 
September  21,  1836.*  The  children  born  of  this  union  were  as 
follows  ; Philip  E.,  Henry  AV.,  Fanny  Wood,  and  Martha  V.,  a 
biographical  sketch  of  each  of  whom  will  be  found  at  the  close  of 
this  chapter.  Besides  these  there  were  two  little  girls,  Lucy  and 
Emma,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Within  a few  months  after  my  father’s  second  marriage  he 
removed  to  Missouri,  where  some  of  his  relatives  and  many  of  his 
old  Halifax  friends  and  neighbors  had  preceded  him,  and  located 
in  Callaway  county  on  the  bank  of  the  Missouri  river  two  miles 
above  Jefferson  City,  the  capital  of  the  State.  Here  he  bought  a large 
tract  of  land  in  the  Missouri  river  bottom — land  as  rich  as  the 
valley  of  the  Nile.  He  probably  knew  how  to  appreciate  rich 
soil,  having  so  long  cultivated  the  sterile  lands  of  old  Virginia, 
and  often  said  that  his  principal  object  in  removing  to  Missouri, 
was  that  his  negroes  might  not  be  required  to  labor  so  hard  to 
make  a living. 

There  were  no  railroads  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains 
at  that  time,  and  the  long  and  tedious  journey  was  made  in  wag- 
ons as  far  as  Wheeling,  in  West  Virginia,  and  thence  down  the 
Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers  by  steamboat. 
On  arriving  at  his  new  home  my  father  undertook  the  herculean 
task  of  clearing  and  improving  a plantation  in  the  river  bottom. 
He  had  about  forty  negroes,  among  whom  were  some  strong  young 
men  ; still,  as  I look  back  now  at  the  task  he  undertook,  at  the  age 
of  48,  I can  but  admire  his  courage  and  energy.  I do  not  think 
the  present  generation  possesses  these  qualities  to  the  same  extent 
as  did  the  early  pioneers  of  Missouri. 

The  Missouri  river  bottoms  at  that  time  were  covered  with  a 
dense  forest  of  timber,  there  were  no  saw  mills,  and  the  lumber 
required  to  build  houses  was  cut  from  the  logs  wdth  a whip-saw. 
He  proceeded  at  once  to  clear  the  land  and  build  houses,  among 

* See  biographical  sketch  in  Adams  history. 


82 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


which  was  a dwelling,  negro  cabins  and  tobacco  barns.  The 
dwelling  was  of  the  most  substantial  character,  and  stood  for  fifty 
years  as  sound  as  it  was  the  day  it  was  finished. 

Like  all  old  Virginians,  he  had  but  one  idea  connected  with 
farming — tobacco  planting,  and  this  was  his  principal  crop  as  long 
as  he  lived.  He  continued  to  reside  on  this  farm  until  1844,  when 
he  sold  it,  the  great  flood  of  that  year  having  damaged  the  soil  by 
depositing  a strata  of  sand.  He  then  bought  another  farm 
directly  opposite  Jefferson  City,  where  he  built  a large  and  sub- 
stantial residence,  in  which  he  continued  to  live  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  March  16,  1860,  at  the  age  of  72  years.  His 
remains  rest  in  the  family  cemetery  in  Callaway  county.  Mo.,  on 
the  farm  of  my  uncle.  Major  John  B.  Adams. 

ANN  B.  CHAPPELL. 

Ann  Brewer  was  the  oldest  child  of  John  Chappell,  and  was 
born  in  Halifax  county,  Va.,  October  23,  1815. 

I came  across  the  will  of  one  Ann  Brewer  (widow),  in  the 
records  of  Amelia  county.  It  was  dated  September  27,  1765. 
It  is  probable  that  this  old  lady  was  a relative  for  whom  my 
sister  was  named.  My  sister  is  remembered  by  those  in  Vir- 
ginia yet  living.  It  is  said  that  she  wore  the  first  silk  dress  ever 
seen  at  “Black  Walnut  Church,”  a great  curiosity  at  that  time. 
She  is  said  to  have  been  in  her  youth  a beautiful  woman,  in  fact 
she  was  very  fine  looking  in  middle  life,  as  I remember  her.  She 
was  tall,  slender,  a decided  brunette,  and  had  the  finest  suit  of  heavy 
black  hair  I ever  saw.  She  was  a splendid  housekeeper,  a 
woman  of  great  energy,  and  was  jovial  and  fun- loving  in 
disposition. 

In  1835  she  married  Dr.  John  H.  Edwards  of  Person  county. 
North  Carolina,  and  soon  thereafter  removed  to  Jefferson  City, 
Mo.,  where  she  continued  to  reside  until  her  death,  in  1864.  There 
were  born  to  this  couple  the  following  children,  who  lived  to 
maturity  : 

1.  Mary  Campbell,  married  Judge  Alex.  Davis  in  1859.  She 
only  lived  a few  years  and  died,  leaving  a son,  James  C.  Davis,  a 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


83 


Tneiiiber  of  the  legal  profession,  who  is  fast  rising  to  prominence. 
He  married  Guy  Hammett.  They  reside  in  St.  Joseph,  Mo., 
and  have  one  child,  which  is  of  the  twelfth  generation  in 
America. 

2.  Margaret  Pate,  born  in  1837,  married  Frank  P.  Dixon, 
and  removed  several  years  since  to  Childress,  Texas,  where  they 
now  live.  They  have  several  children,  some  of  whom  are  mar- 
ried, and  all  of  whom  are  intelligent  and  industrious  young 
people. 

3.  John,  is  the  oldest  son  living.  He  is  an  old  bachelor  and 
resides  in  St.  Louis. 

4.  Thomas  Reed,  the  second  son,  was  a bright,  handsome 
young  man,  and  a general  favorite.  He  was  a lawyer  by  profes- 
sion, and  removed,  when  quite  young,  to  Montana,  and  located 
in  Bozeman,  where  he  rose  rapidly  in  prominence.  He  was 
elected  a member  of  the  senate,  but  died  soon  after,  far  away 
from  home  and  relativ'es. 

5.  Alice,  the  third  daughter,  married  Judge  Alex.  Davis, 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife.  He  is  a prominent  and  wealthy 
lawyer  of  St.  Louis,  now  retired  from  active  practice.  Mrs.  Davis 
is  a brunette,  and  a woman  of  unusual  good  sense  and  kindness 
of  heart.  She  is  a great  favorite  with  her  relatives  and  friends, 
and  a devoted  Christian  wife  and  mother.  The  issue  of  this  mar- 
riage, now  living,  are  two  sons  and  a daughter,  Sidney,  Walter 
and  Harriet.  Sidney  is  a newly-fledged  member  of  the  St. 
Louis  bar,  and  is  destined  to  make  his  mark  in  his  profession. 
Walter  and  Harriet  are  both  bright  children,  but  not  yet 
grown. 

6.  Walter,  the  third  son,  is  a farmer  and  wheat  raiser  near 
Childress,  Texas,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  several  years. 
He,  too,  is  an  old  bachelor. 

7.  Ernest,  is  the  youngest  member  of  the  family,  and  is  a busi- 
ness man  of  fine  attainments.  He  is  a manufacturer  in  St.  Louis, 
where  he  has  by  his  own  energy  built  up  a large  and  remunerative 
business,  and  employs  more  than  a hundred  operatives.  Strange 
to  say,  he  is  the  only  Yankee  manufacturer  in  the  family,  and  has 
gone  entirely  out  of  the  line  of  his  ancestors.  Ernest  is  happily 
married  to  a Miss  Thompson,  and  they  have  two  children. 


84 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


SARAH  D.  CHAPPELL. 

Sarah  Dnisilla  was  named  for  her  grandmother,  Drusilla 
Pate,  and  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  Va.,  January  1,  1821,  and 
with  her  sister  Ann  was  educated  in  Danville,  Va.  She  married 
Dr.  Wm.  B.  Lenoir  on  February  22,  1844.*  There  were  born  of 
this  marriage  three  sons  and  a daughter.  The  sons  are  Walter 
C.,  William  and  John,  all  of  whom  are  old  bachelors,  and  live 
with  their  mother  on  their  farm  near  Columbia,  Mo.,  where  they 
have  lived  happily  for  many  years.  They  are  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  boys  are  upright,  moral  and  industrious  young 
men.  Mary  Ellen,  the  daughter,  married  Geo.  W.  Allison,  a law- 
yer and  banker  of  McPherson,  Kan.,  where  they  reside.  They 
have  one  son,  George,  a bright  little  fellow  about  six  years  old. 

My  sister,  Mrs.  Lenoir,  is  a most  remarkable  woman.  Phys- 
ically she  differs  from  the  other  children  of  my  father  by  his 
first  marriage,  being  a perfect  blonde.  In  this  she  resembles  her 
Scotch  ancestry — the  Dickies.  She  is  a small  woman,  but  has 
always  led  an  active  life,  and  has  been  blessed  with  a good  consti- 
tution and  good  health.  But  she  is  remarkable,  not  for  her  per- 
sonal appearance,  but  for  her  cultivated  intellect.  She  has  been  a 
hard  student  and  bookworm  all  her  life,  and  has  thereby  acquired 
a rich  fund  of  knowledge.  There  are  but  few  subjects,  whether 
scientific,  religious  or  historical,  with  which  she  is  not  perfectly 
familiar.  She  is  the  only  learned  and  literary  Chappell  I have 
ever  known,  and  had  she  been  a man,  with  the  same  mind  and  am- 
bition, it  is  difficult  to  tell  to  what  eminence  in  the  world  she 
might  not  have  attained.  She  is  now  73  years  old,  is  the  eldest 
member  of  our  father’s  family  living,  and  is  greatly  respected  and 
beloved  by  all  of  her  relatives. 


JOHN  A.  CHAPPELL. 

John  Anderson  was  born  May  17,  1823,  and  was  the  oldest 
son  of  John  Chappell  by  his  first  marriage.  He  was  the  fourth 


* Dr.  Wm.  B.  Lenoir  was  a grandson  of  Gen.  Wm.  Lenoir,  a distinguished  officer  in  the 
Revolutionary  army  from  North  Carolina. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


85- 


John  Chappell  in  succession  in  onr  branch,  and  being  the  oldest 
son,  the  traditions  of  the  family  were  observed  in  bestowing  on 
him  the  favorite  name.  He  was  educated  at  Bonne  Femme  Col- 
lege in  Boone  county.  Mo.,  and  died  there  on  January  24,  1842,  at 
the  age  of  19.  He  was,  perhaps,  the  handsomest  Chappell  in  our 
branch  of  the  family,  was  tall,  well  formed,  had  dark  hair  and 
black  eyes,  and  was  an  exceedingly  fine-looking  and  popular 
young  man.  His  death  in  early  manhood  cast  a shadow  over  our 
household  which  continued  for  many  a day. 

GRANVILLE  T.  CHAPPELL. 

Granville  Thomas  was  the  youngest  son  of  my  father  by  his 
first  wife.  He  was  born  on  January  5,  1825.  It  will  be  observed 
that  he  bore  the  old  family  name  — Thomas.  The  name 
“Granville,”  has  never  been  borne  by  but  one  other  Chappell, 
I think,  who  was  Richard  Granville  Chappell  of  Charlotte 
county,  Va. 

My  brother  was  educated  at  St.  Charles  College,  Mo.  My 
father,  having,  no  doubt,  in  his  own  life  felt  the  disadvantages  re- 
sulting from  the  want  of  early  educational  opportunities,  deter- 
mined to  spare  no  pains  or  expense  in  giving  to  each  of  his  chil- 
dren, from  the  oldest  to  the  youngest,  the  advantages  of  the  best 
schools  in  the  country.  My  brother  had  just  completed  his  edu- 
cation when  the  breaking  out  of  the  “California  fever,”  as  it  was 
called,  induced  him  to  go  to  the  Pacific  coast,  which  he  did  in 
1849.  He  only  lived  a few  months,  and  died  on  October  28,  1850, 
far  away  from  home  and  friends,  and  was  buried  by  the  side  of 
his  young  comrade  and  kinsman,  Benjamin  Palmer,  son  of  Isaac 
Palmer,  in  what  is  now  an  unknown  grave.  There  is  no  stone  to 
mark  the  last  resting  place  of  these  two  young  men. 

“No  name  to  bid  us  know 
Who  rests  below; 

No  word  of  death  or  birth, 

Only  the  grass’s  wave 
Over  a mound  of  earth, 

Over  a nameless  grave.” 


86 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


MARY  SUSANNAH  CHAPPELL. 

Mary  Susan,  or  Susannah,  as  it  is  written  in  the  family  Bible, 
was  the  youngest  child  of  our  father  by  his  first  marriage.  She 
was  born  November  10,  1830,  and  on  September  29,  1852,  mar- 
ried Judge  John  H.  Moore,  a cousin  of  my  wife’s.  She  was  of 
medium  size;  and  rather  a brunette,  had  dark  brown  hair,  blue 
eyes,  and  a lovely,  sweet  face.  I never  knew  a more  universally 
popular  or  beloved  young  woman  than  she  ; for  with  a refined 
character,  full  of  Christian  graces  and  benevolence,  she  possessed 
a well  cultivated  intellect.  Judge  Moore  was  a California  pioneer, 
a lawyer,  and  had  formerly  lived  in  Callaway  county.  Mo.  On 
their  marriage  they  made  the  long  and  dangerous  voyage  to  Cali- 
fornia via  Panama,  but  reached  their  destination  safely.  She 
was  destined,  however,  to  live  but  a few  years,  and  died  at  their 
home  in  San  Jose,  on  September  27,  1858,  leaving  one  son,  named 
Howell  C.  Moore,  who  is  also,  by  profession,  a lawyer.  He  has 
never  married. 

It  is  a suprising  fact,  that  of  my  father’s  eleven  grandsons, 
living  to  maturity,  only  three  have  married,  one  is  dead  and 
seven  are  old  bachelors.  Of  the  three  who  are  married  but  one 
bears  the  name  ‘‘Chappell.”  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  with  the  tenth 
generation,  the  name  may  not,  in  the  Missouri  branch,  as  it  has  in 
some  others,  become  extinct. 


PHIL.  E.  CHAPPELL. 

Philip  Edward  Chappell,  the  author  of  this  family  history, 
was  born  in  Callaway  county.  Mo.,  August  18, 1837,  near  the  little 
village  of  Barkersville,  about  ten  miles  from  Jefferson  City,  where 
the  family  resided  a short  time  before  removing  to  the  farm  bought 
by  my  father,  already  mentioned.  My  earliest  recollections  are  of 
our  home  life  on  this  farm,  and  as  these  were  the  pioneer  days  of 
Missouri,  a short  description  of  life  at  that  time  in  the  West  may 
not  be  uninteresting. 

My  father  made  no  mistake  in  buying  land  and  selecting  his 
future  home  ; the  soil  of  this  farm  is  as  fertile  and  as  productive 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


87 


to-day  as  it  was  sixty  years  ago,  and  has  constantly  risen  in  value 
until  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  state.  In  fact,  in  the 
United  States  there  can  be  found  no  more  fertile  lands  than  those 
of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  river  bottoms. 

The  early  settlers  of  Missouri  were  an  independent,  hospit- 
able and  social  class.  They  were  comparatively  independent  of 
the  outside  world,  for  almost  everything  needed  for  the  table,  as 
well  as  wearing  apparel,  was  produced  on  the  farm.  The  wants 
of  the  people  were  few  and  easily  supplied.  The  woods  abounded 
with  game  of  all  kinds,  and  with  wild  fruits  of  many  varieties. 
Our  clothing,  especially  that  worn  by  the  servants,  was  manufac- 
tured from  wool,  flax,  and  sometimes  cotton,  grown  on  the  farm. 
Shoes  were  made  from  leather  tanned  in  the  neighborhood  tan- 
yard,  and  by  the  plantation  negro  shoemaker  or  the  itinerant  cob- 
bler. Lands  were  cheap  and  exceedingly  fertile,  every  man  owned 
his  own  home,  and  but  little  labor  was  required  to  produce  suf- 
ficient food  for  his  family.  There  were  no  very  wealthy  people, 

and  no  abject  poverty.  The  genus  tramp  had  not  put  in  his  ap- 
pearance, unless  the  few  marauding  Indians,  who  passed  through 
the  country  could  be  so  called.  It  is  true  that  money  was  scarce, 
fortunes  were  not  acquired  rapidly,  and  in  fact  the  only  source  of 
revenue  for  the  Virginia  immigrant  was  derived  from  the  annual 
sale  of  his  tobacco,  which  was  shipped  to  St.  Louis  in  hogsheads, 
by  boat,  and  sold  or  exported  to  Europe.  But  there  was  not  much 
need  for  money,  except  to  enter  government  land,  and  there  was 
not  the  strife  and  anxiety  to  acquire  riches  then  that  prevails 
now.  Such  was  the  life  we  lived  in  Missouri,  in  my  boyhood. 

I remained  on  the  farm,  working  some,  hunting,  trapping — 
for  we  were  all  sportsmen  in  those  days — and  going  to  school  in 
the  old  log  school-house  near  by,  in  the  winter,  until  I was  fifteen 
years  old,  when  I was  sent  off  to  college.  I remained  away 
four  years,  a part  of  the  time  at  the  Kemper  school,  at  Boonville, 
and  the  last  two  years  at  the  University  of  Missouri,  returning 
home  at  nineteen. 

I never  took  kindly  to  farm  life,  it  was  too  plodding,  and  my 
ambition  was  in  a different  direction,  for  I inherited  a commercial 
taste  that  manifested  itself  early  in  life.  I was  born  and  raised  on 
the  banks  of  the  Missouri  river,  floated  little  bark  boats  on  its 


88 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


waters,  as  a child,  learned  to  swim  in  it,  as  a boy,  and  the  daily 
sight  of  the  magnificent  steamers  plying  that  stream,  in  my  youth, 
early  created  a desire  to  become  a steamboatman,  a taste  that  has 
continued  with  me  through  life,  and  has  led  to  my  connection 
with  different  boat  lines  and  other  enterprises,  on  the  Missouri  and 
other  western  rivers. 

I began  life  as  a steamboatman  and  continued  on  the  river 
until  1860,  when  my  father’s  old  age  and  declining  health  called 
me  home  to  assist  in  the  management  of  his  estate.  He  died  in  a 
few  months  after  my  return,  and  I was  left  by  his  will,  the  exec- 
utor of  his  estate  and  the  protector  of  my  mother  and  younger 
sisters. 

On  July  3,  1861,  I married  Teresa  Ellen,  daughter  of  Col. 
Meredith  R.  Tarlton,*  a farmer  and  near  neighbor.  My  wife  was 
born  in  Callaway  county.  Mo.,  Feb.  27,  1842,  and  we  had  known 
each  other  from  childhood.  She  is  a blonde,  below  the  medium 
size,  has  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  a fair  complexion,  has  been 
blessed  with  good  health,  and  is  a woman  of  unusual  energy. 
She  is  amiable  in  disposition,  charitable  and  kind  to  those  around 
her,  and  has  ever  been  a true  and  affectionate  wife  and  helpmate. 
She  is  a zealous  member  of  the  Southern  Methodist  church. 

I continued  to  reside  in  Callaway  county,  where  I was  en- 
gaged, a part  of  the  time,  at  Cedar  City  (a  town  laid  off  on  a part 
of  my  father’s  homestead),  in  merchandising,  trading  and  farming, 
until  1869.  During  this  period  occurred  the  Civil  War.  Some 
men,  in  reckoning  the  years  of  their  lives,  omit  the  four  years, 
from  1861  to  1865.  Perhaps  it  is  well  enough  to  do  so,  and  blot 
them  from  memory  forever,  for  “ pen  cannot  picture  or  tongue 
tell  ” the  terrible  scenes  of  strife,  carnage  and  rapine  witnessed 
and  endured  by  those  living  in  a border  state,  a section  of  the 
country  in  which  the  hand  of  father  was  raised  against  son  and 
brother  against  brother. 

* The  Tarltons  are  of  English  extraction.  Their  immigrant  ancestor  came  to  America 
at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Maryland,  from  whence  Jeremiah  Tarlton,  the  father  of 
Col.  M.  R.  Tarlton,  emigrated,  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  to  Kentucky, 
and  settled  in  Scott  county.  He  raised  a family  of  five  sons,  whose  names  were  Al- 
fred, Ralph,  Llewellin,  John  and  Meredith.  Col.  Meredith  R.  Tarlton  was  small  in 
stature— his  weight  did  not  exceed  125  pounds— but  a braver,  more  noble,  generous 
or  kind-hearted  man,  never  lived.  He  was  a typical  Kentucky  Colonel— the  noblest  of 
mankind.  He  married  Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Locke,  in  1836,  and  died  in 
1880. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHEK  KIXDRED  FAMILIES.  89 

Mv  principal  crop,  while  farming,  was  tobacco — tbe  old  family 
staple.  Daring  1869,  I raised  a large  crop,  and,  at  the  State  Fair, 
held  in  St.  Louis,  was  awarded  tbe  first  premium  for  the  best  hogs- 
head of  shipping  leaf,  raised  in  the  state.  I would  remark  here, 
that  the  art  of  raising  and  curing  fine  tobacco,  had  not  been  lost 
in  the  family.  But  this  was  the  last  hogshead  of  tobacco  raised 
by  any  of  the  family  in  Missouri — the  time  had  come  to  make  a 
change.  Tobacco  had  been,  for  a period  of  235  years — from  the 
landing:  of  our  first  ancestor,  at  the  mouth  of  James  River  in  Viv- 
ginia,  (1635) — the  great  family  staple  ; it  had  been  cultivated  from 
generation  to  generation,  and  had  been  the  principal  source  of 
revenue  and  wealth  ; many  members  of  previous  generations  had 
grown  rich  from  its  culture.  But  the  crop  could  no  longer  be 
raised  profitably  under  the  changed  system  of  labor.  Slavery,  by 
the  fate  of  war  and  the  mutable  changes  of  time,  had  been 
abolished  ; there  was  no  other  labor  in  the  country  suitable  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  crop,  and  the  “colored  brother”  could  no 
longer  be  depended  on  in  the  tobacco  field.  I accepted  the  situa- 
tion, sold  my  farm,  and  determined  to  make  a living  in  some  other 
way. 

Od  September  1,  1869,  I was  offered  the  presidency  of  the 
‘‘  Jefferson  City  Savings  Association,”  the  oldest  bank  in  Jeffer- 
son City.  I accepted  the  position,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1870, 
closed  out  my  interests  on  the  farm,  and  removed  to  Jefferson 
City,  giving  my  entire  time  to  the  bank.  This  bank  became  a 
great  success,  and  was  afterwards  changed  into  the  “Exchange 
Bank,”  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  solid  institutions  in  the  state. 
I still  retain  my  interest  and  identification  with  it. 

In  1880,  I was  elected  State  Treasurer  of  Missouri,  being  the 
regular  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party.*  After  remaining  in 
the  treasurer’s  office  four  years,  I removed,  in  1885,  to  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  and  became  connected  with  the  Citizens  Rational 
Bank.  This  is  one  of  the  most  fiourishing  financial  institutions  in 
the  state,  and  has  gone  safely  through  every  storm  to  which  it  has 
been  subjected.  I remained  at  the  head  of  this  bank  until  Janu- 
ary, 1892,  when  I resigned  the  presidency  that  I might  be  enabled 
to  give  my  undivided  attention  to  my  personal  affairs,  and  take  a 


My  majority  was,  54,000, 


^0 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OE  THE 


long  needed  rest,  to  which  I thought  I was  entitled,  after  close 
attention  to  business  for  a third,  of  a century.  I still,  however, 
retain  my  connection  with  the  bank,  and  can  always  be  found 
close  to  the  helm  when  the  clouds  begin  to  lower  and  a financial 
storm  is  threatening. 

While  a strong  partisan  and  Democrat  all  my  life,  I could  not 
well  hold  any  other  political  faith,  coming  from  such  an  ancestry 
as  I do;  I have  never  been  an  active  politician  or  office  seeker,  but 
have  always  taken  an  earnest  interest  in  public  affairs,  as  every 
good  citizen  should,  and  have  done  all  in  my  power  to  promote  the 
interests  of  my  party.  For  thirty-five  years  I have  been  a hard 
working  business  man,  plodding  and  methodical  in  my  habits  and 
possessing  the  usual  amount  of  energy,  enterprise  and  industry 
which  has  characterized  our  race.  My  early  training  was  in  com- 
mercial pursuits,  my  inherited  instinct,  perhaps,  was  in  that  direc- 
tion, and  whatever  ambition  I have  had  in  life,  has  been  to  achieve 
a reputation  as  an  intelligent,  honorable  business  man. 

I have,  however,  without  interfering  with  my  regular  occupa- 
tion, held  the  following  official  positions  : 

In  1870,  I was  elected  a member  of  the  city  council  of  Jeffer- 
son City,  Mo. 

In  1872,  was  elected  mayor  of  Jefferson  City,  without  oppo- 
sition. 

From  1873  to  1880,  was  a member  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
of*  the  State  Insane  Asylum,  having  first  been  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Hardin  and  re-appointed  by  Governor  Phelps. 

From  1881  to  1885,  inclusive,  was  State  Treasurer  of  Missouri 
and  also  ex-officio^  one  of  the  Inspectors  of  the  Missouri  State 
Penitentiary. 

In  1889,  after  my  removal  to  Kansas  City,  was  appointed,  by 
the  mayor,  a member  of  the  first  Board  of  Public  Works  of  that 
city,  and  assisted,  under  the  new  charter,  in  formulating  and  put- 
ting into  operation,  the  system  of  public  improvements  which  has 
resulted  in  building  up  one  of  the  most  remarkable  cities  in  the 
United  States.  I have  held,  in  my  business  life,  many  other 
positions  of  responsibility  and  trust,  but  the  above  have  been 
the  most  important,  and  all  have  been  in  the  line  of  business 
offices. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


91 


PHIL.  E.  CHAPPELL’S  DESCENDANTS. 

The  following  children  have  been  born  to  Phil.  E.  and  Teresa 
E.  Chappell ; 

Claudia  E.,  born  Nov.  26,  1862. 

Logan  B.,  born  Nov.  4,  1864. 

Jlary  L.,  born  Nov.  27,  1867. 

John  T.,  born  Feb.  23,  1873. 

Alice  D.,  born  Nov.  5,  1874. 

1.  Claudia  Emma,  was  educated  at  Monticello  Seminary, 
and  married  Horace  H.  Leonard  November  4,  1884.  Horace  only 
lived  a few  weeks  and  died  January  9,  1885.  On  November  23, 
1887,  she  married  Louis  C.  Krauthoff,  a member  of  the  bar  of 
Kansas  City.  Mr.  Krauthoff  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  his  pro- 
fession ; he  has  been  a member  of  the  Legislature,  president  of 
the  Bar  Association  of  the  state,  and  is  prominent  in  the  councils 
of  the  Democratic  party.  One  child,  a son,  was  born  of  this 
union — Philip  Chappell — a bright  little  fellow,  who  represents  in 
my  line  the  eleventh  generation  of  the  family  in  America.  Little 
Phil,  was  born  March  15,  1890,  and  is  therefore  five  years  old. 

Claudia  was  of  medium  size,  of  stately  carriage,  fine  form, 
and  was  in  all  respects  an  attractive  woman.  She  was  nearly  a 
brunette  in  complexion,  had  dark  brown  hair,  and  the  large,  round 
eye  peculiar  to  the  family.  She  possessed  a well-cultivated  mind, 
unusual  self-confidence,  superior  business  qualities  and  withal  was 
a benevolent,  kind,  Christian  woman.  There  are  but  few  persons 
who  began  life  under  more  favorable  auspices.  Surrounded  by 
her  friends  and  relatives,  with  a good  home  and  an  alfectionate 
husband,  the  world  looked  bright,  indeed,  to  her.  But  it  was  God’s 
will  that  she  should  be  taken  from  us,  and  her  young  life  went  out 
like  a fiash.  She  died  of  heart  failure,  at  Sweet  Springs,  July  26, 
1891.  Her  death  was  indeed  sad,  and  caused  us  the  greatest 
sorrow  of  our  lives,  a sorrow  that  time  may  assuage  but  can  never 
cure. 

“Above  at  last,  life’s  trials  past, 

We’ll  meet  our  loved  once  more. 

Whose  feet  have  trod  the  paths  of  God — 

Not  lost,  but  gone  before.” 


92 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


2.  Logan  Ballantine  Chappell  is  the  only  son,  and  the  only 
male  representative  of  the  name  in  his  generation  and  branch  of 
the  family,  in  Missouri.  He  married  Rena  Corder,  a most  esti- 
mable lady,  daughter  of  Nathan  Corder  of  Waverly,  Mo.,  on 
March  17,  1890.  But  one  child  has  been  born  of  the  union — 
Teresa  Tarlton — born  March  9,  1891.  She  is  a healthy  and  prom- 
ising little  girl.  Logan  resembles  his  Adams  kindred  in  personal 
appearance,  as  I have  known  them.  He  is  a large,  athletic  man, 
nearly  six  feet  tall,  and  weighs  about  200  pounds  ; has  a fair,  ruddy 
complexion,  light  hair  and  blue  eyes.  He  possesses,  however,  in 
his  personal  character  many  of  the  Chappell  traits.  He  has  energy, 
industry  and  excellent  business  judgment ; is  honest  and  upright 
in  his  dealings,  and  is  a man  of  few  words.  He  has  inherited  es- 
pecially one  characteristic  of  my  father,  a fixedness  of  purpose 
and  unswerving  determination  to  accomplish  whatever  is  under- 
taken. He  is  a steward  in  the  Southern  Methodist  church. 

Logan  is  a farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  owns  a fine  farm  near 
Mt.  Leonard,  in  Saline  county,  not  far  from  Kansas  City.  The 
county  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  state,  and  the  soil  is  practically  in- 
exhaustible. The  crops  raised  are  blue-grass,  wheat  and  corn,  and 
of  the  latter  cereal,  one  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre  is  not  an  un- 
usual yield.  An  abundance  of  blue-grass  and  corn  are  prerequisite 
in  the  production  of  good  beef,  and  this  part  of  Missouri  produces 
the  best  beef  in  the  world.  The  cattle  selected  are  high-grade. 
Shorthorn,  Galloway  or  Hereford  steers,  and  w^hen  fully  matured, 
at  three  years  old,  they  weigh  from  1,500  to  1,600  pounds,  and 
are  frequently  sold  at  six  cents  per  pound,  gross.  They  are  gener- 
ally shipped  to  England  in  vessels  with  padded  stalls,  prepared  for 
that  purpose,  are  called  “export  cattle,”  and  in  the  English  market 
command  the  highest  price  of  any  beef  cattle  raised  in  the  world. 

3.  Mary  Locke  is  our  oldest  daughter.  She  was  also  edu- 
cated at  Monticello,  has  some  local  reputation  as  an  artist, 
and  is  an  excellent  musician.  She  has  brown  eyes,  fair  complex- 
ion, brown  hair,  and  is  of  medium  size.  Mary  has  alway  been 
popular  with  her  young  friends,  and  gives  much  of  her  time  to 
work  in  her  church.  On  April  17,  1894,  she  married  Hal  Gay- 
lord. Mr.  Gaylord  is  a journalist  by  profession,  and  is  the  busi- 
ness manager  of  one  of  the  largest  daily  papers  in  Kansas  City. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KINDRED  EAMILIES. 


93 


4.  John  Tarlton  was  the  second  son.  In  him  the  traditions 
of  our  family  were  observed,  and  he  was  given  the  favorite  family 
name — the  fifth  John  in  succession  in  our  line.  He  was  a fair- 
haired, blue-eyed  boy,  but  lived  to  be  only  six  years  old,  and 
died  May  1,  1879.  With  the  passing  of  his  young  life  went  out 
the  brightest  hopes  and  ambitions  of  my  life.  He  was  a bright, 
manly  boy,  bore  the  family  name — John  Chappell — and  in  some 
way,  my  family  pride  aud  ambition  were  centered  in  him.  Had 
he  lived,  he  no  doubt  would  have  become  an  honor  to  his  race  and 
name. 

5.  Alice  Davis,  named  for  our  favorite  niece,  Mrs.  Alice 
Davis,  is  yet  a school  girl,  and  is  at  Monticello  Seminary,  where 
her  sisters  were  educated.  She  is  petite  in  form  and  small  for  her 
age,  but  is  bright  and  pretty,  and  bids  fair  to  become  an  intelli- 
gent and  refined  young  woman.  Being  the  youngest,  she  is  natur- 
ally the  favorite. 

HENRY  W.  CHAPPELL. 

Henry  Wirter  Chappell  was  born  in  Callaway  county.  Mo., 
March  17,  1840,  and  removed  during  the  war  of  ’61  to  California. 
In  personal  appearance  he  was  a very  handsome  man,  a blonde  and 
of  fine  figure  and  elegant  manners.  He  was  exceedingly  affable, 
courteous  and  pleasant,  and  was  a general  favorite  with  all  who 
knew  him  ; a whole-souled,  honest,  honorable  man,  despising  a 
small  or  mean  act  with  perfect  horror.  He  was  the  perfect  type 
of  a high-strung,  impetuous  Southern  gentleman. 

He  was  married  in  California  on  March  9,  1863,  to  Fanny 
McCoy,  daughter  of  Major  McCoy,  a California  pioneer,  and  died 
on  March  17,  1882.  There  are  two  children,  now  living,  born  of 
this  union  ; the  oldest,  McCoy  Chappell,  an  intelligent,  moral  and 
upright  young  man,  who  is  by  profession  a dentist,  lives  in  San 
Francisco  ; the  other  is  a daughter  named  Mary,  a pretty,  inter- 
esting and  accomplished  young  girl,  just  budding  into  womanhood. 
Fanny  married  a second  time  ; her  husband  is  Judge  A.  Fitzger- 
ald, a judge  of  one  of  the  superior  courts  of  the  State  of  Xevada, 
and  the  family  reside  at  Eureka,  in  that  State.  Judge  Fitzgerald 
is  a brother  of  Bishop  Fitzgerald  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 


94 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


FANNY  WOOD  CHAPPELL. 

Fanny  was  born  November  28,  1844,  and  was  married  to  J. 
L.  Smith,  at  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  June  2,  1863.  She  is  below  the 
medium  size,  is  very  nearly  a brunette,  and  has  dark  hair  and  blue 
eyes.  She  possesses  great  energy,  excellent  business  qualities,  and, 
in  fact,  has  all  the  business  traits  of  character  which  distinguished 
our  father.  She  is,  without  any  exception,  the  best  business 
woman  I have  ever  known,  and  had  she  been  a man,  would  have 
made  her  mark  in  the  commercial  world. 

Judge  Smith  was  educated  at  the  Missouri  University,  and  we 
were  classmates  and  room-mates.  On  leaving  college  he  located  in 
Jefferson  City,  where  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
When  quite  young  he  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Cole 
county.  He  rose  rapidly  in  his  profession  and  became  attorney  for 
the  Missouri  Pacific  railroad,  and  a leading  member  of  the  bar 
of  the  State.  In  1876,  he  was  elected  Attorney  General,  being 
the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  1888,  was  elected 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  Missouri  Court  of  Appeals,  for  the 
western  district  of  the  state.  In  1892,  he  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  office,  for  a period  of  twelve  years,  receiving  the 
nomination  of  his  party  without  opposition.  His  official  posi- 
tion required  his  removal  to  Kansas  City,  where  he  now 
resides. 

Judge  Smith,  my  sister,  my  wife,  and  I,  were  all  raised  as 
children  together  ; we  have  been  together  all  of  our  lives,  first  in 
Callaway  county,  then  in  Jefferson  City  and  now  in  Kansas  City, 
where  our  residences  are  close  together,  and  we  have  been  as  one 
family  for  nearly  a half  century. 

There  has  been  born  to  this  couple  but  one  child.  Clay  Ewing 
Smith,  who  is  now  in  his  29th  year.  He  is  a well  educated  and 
handsome  young  man,  has  dark  hair,  bright  black  eyes  and  a fine 
form  ; he  is  moral  and  upright  in  his  dealings,  is  kind  hearted,  and 
a general  favorite  with  all  of  his  acquaintances.  He  is  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  drug  business  in  Kansas  City.  He  married  Miss 
Nellie  Brooker  a very  bright,  beautiful  and  amiable  young  woman, 
and  they  have  a promising  future  before  them. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


95> 


MARTHA  V.  CHAPPELL. 

Martha  Virginia,  is  the  youngest  member  of  oiir  father’s 
family,  and  was  born  July  17,  1853.  She  is  also  the  youngest 
descendant  now  living,  in  our  generation,  of  either  of  the  three 
Dickie  sisters.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  John  and  Sarah 
(Dickie)  Chappell,  viz.:  Dickie,  Sarah,  Susannah  and  John,  there 
are  of  their  children  only  the  following  now  living  : of  Dickie 
Chappell’s  children,  only  one,  John  W.  Chappell,  of  Kentucky  * 
of  Sarah  Wade’s,  only  one,  Mrs.  Fanny  Oliver,  of  Texas  ; of  Susan- 
nah Compton’s,  only  two,  J.  Reese  Compton  and  Mrs.  Catharine 
Johnston,  of  Georgia,  and  of  John  Chappell’s  family,  only  the 
following  : Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Lenoir,  Mrs.  Fanny  W.  Smith,  Mrs. 
Martha  V.  Ewing  and  I.  Of  a once  numerous  offspring,  these  are 
all  that  are  left. 

Mattie  is  like  her  sister,  Mrs.  Smith,  very  nearly  a brunette, 
but  bears  a marked  resemblance  to  our  mother,  and  was  considered 
a very  beautiful  woman  when  young,  and  is  still  quite  attractive. 
She  is  Avell  educated,  intelligent,  witty,  entertaining  in  conversa- 
tion, and  very  social  and  fond  of  congenial  society. 

She  married  Henry  W.  Ewing,  of  Jefferson  City,  in  1879. 
Her  husband  has  been  a prominent  Democratic  politician  in 
Missouri  for  many  years,  and  probably  has  as  extensive  an 
acquaintance  among  public  men  as  any  one  in  the  state.  He  is 
now  about  forty  years  old,  and  is  a handsome  and  polished  gen- 
tleman. For  twelve  years,  he  was  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State,  his  father.  Judge  E.  B.  Ewing,  having  been,  for 
many  years,  on  the  Supreme  Bench.  For  the  last  ten  years  he 
has  held  the  lucrative  office  of  public  printer,  and  is  also  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Jefferson  City  Tribune,  the  Democratic  state 
organ. 

To  this  couple  four  ckildren  have  been  born.  The  oldest, 
Mary,  is  the  pet  of  the  entire  family.  She  is  about  thirteen  years 
old,  but  is  far  advanced  for  her  age.  There  are  two  little  boys. 
Clay  and  Jack.  Both  are  bright  little  fellows,  and  will,  no  doubt, 
become  useful  men.  The  youngest,  a little  girl,  is  an  infant, 
named  Dorothy ; named,  perhaps,  after  old  James  Chappell’s 


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A GENEALOGICAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE 


daughter  of  Amelia  county,  Va.,  (1776)  whose  will  maybe  found 
on  a previous  page,  and  in  which  his  two  daughters,  Dorothy  and 
Caty,  are  threatened  to  be  cut  off  with  five  shillings,  in  case  their 
mother,  Phoebe,  “does  not  abide  by  this,  my  will.”  I have  never 
heard  of  any  other  Dorothy,  except  these  two,  in  the  Chappell 
family. 


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97 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Dickie  Chappell,  of  Kentucky — The  Wade  Family — The 
Comptons,  of  Georgia. 

Dickie  Chappell  was  the  oldest  child  of  John  Chappell,  of 
Halifax  county,  Virginia,  by  his  first  wife,  Sarah  Dickie.  He  was 
born  in  that  county,  March  28,  1782,  emigrated  to  Kentucky, 
and  settled  in  Christian  county  in  1801,  where  he  married  Susan 
McCarty,  on  June  22,  1810.  She  was  born  August  15,  1794  and 
died  August  10,  1855.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Kentucky  until 
1853,  when  he  removed  toWashington  county,  Texas,  and  located 
near  Chappell  Hill.*  There  was  born  to  this  couple  the  following 
children:  Ursula,  P.,  Elizabeth  E.,  Richard  H.,  John  W.,  Ed- 

ward M.,  and  Thomas  W. 


URSULA  P. 

Ursula,  married  Hiram  Thomson  and  removed  to  Chappell 
Hill,  Texas,  in  1850.  They  had  two  sons,  Alexander  B.  and 
Charles.  Alexander  was  a fine  looking  young  man,  when  I met 
him,  in  1865.  He  was  a gallant  officer  in  the  Confederate  Army, 
and  participated  in  the  naval  engagement  near  Galveston,  in  which 
the  United  States  war-ship  “Harriet  Lane”  was  sunk.  He  died 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Charles  is  still  living  in  Texas. 

ELIZABETH. 

Elizabeth  married  Thomas  McCarty,  lived  in  Christian 
county,  and  died  in  1891,  leaving  two  children,  Edward  and 
Elizabeth  ; the  latter  married  D.  L.  Grinter.  They  live  in  Cadiz, 
Kentucky. 

* Chappell  Hill  was  named  for  the  pioneer,  James  Chappell,  and  laid  out  by  him,  about 
1840. 


98 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


RICHARD  H. 

Richard  was  a physician  ; never  married.  Died,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1852.  Age,  23. 

JOHN  W.  CHAPPELL. 

John  Wesley  Chappell  was  born  March  19,  1824,  and  is  now 
70  years  old.  He  lives  in  Cadiz, Kentucky,  where  he  has  spent  nearly 
a half  century  in  merchandising  and  banking,  and  is  now  president 
of  the  bank  of  Cadiz.  He  is  a most  excellent  business  man,  upright 
in  his  dealings  and  industrious  in  his  habits,  and  is  the  best  pre- 
served man  of  his  age  I have  ever  known.  He  is  six  feet  tall, 
weighs  200  pounds,  is  as  straight  and  as  athletic  as  most  men  of 
50,  and  as  a combination,  physically,  intellectually,  and  morally, 
has  few  equals.  In  his  long  life,  given  to  commercial  pursuits,  he 
has  accumulated  a handsome  fortune,  and  now  lives  to  enjoy  it, 
blessed  with  every  comfort  for  which  well-to-do  Kentuckians  are 
proverbial.  He  is  surrounded  by  his  children  and  grandchildren, 
who  idolize  him,  and  is  indeed,  a patriarch,  honored  and  respected 
in  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived  so  long.  I visited  these 
relatives  recently,  and  was  the  recipient  of  their  kind  hospitality. 
I never  met  a happier  family,  nor  one  in  which  the  father  was 
held  in  higher  esteem  and  affection.  They  are  zealous  members 
of  the  Southern  Methodist  Church. 

John  W.  Chappell  married  Sarah  E.  Jefferson,  of  Gallatin, 
Tennessee.  She  was  born  August  28,  1828.  There  were  born  to 
them  the  following  children  : 

1.  Emma  F.,  b.  January  31,  1848  ; m.  R.  W.  Major,  who 
died  in  1892,  leaving  the  following  children  : Charles  Dickie, 
Elizabeth  McCarty,  Robert  Wade,  John  Wesley  and  Winnie  Davis; 
the  last  name  “gives  aAvay”  the  politics  of  the  family,  for  she  was 
named  after  the  “Daughter  of  the  Confederacy.” 

2.  Thomas  Dickie,  b.  Oct.  6,  1850  ; d.  July  10,  1876  ; never 
married. 

3.  Martha  Susan,  b.  January  21,  1853,  ni.  John  C.  Dabney, 
d.  January  25,  1886.  Left  four  children,  Ethel,  Albert,  Florence 
and  Mattie. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


99 


4.  John  Jefferson,  b.  Dec.  16,  1855,  m.  Ida  Cooper,  March  6, 
1884  ; they  have  two  children,  James  and  *Sarah.  Both  are 
promising  children  and  bear  old  fashioned  Chappell  names. 

5.  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  May  31,  1858,  m.  James  E.  Gill  of 
Clarksville,  Tenn.,  where  they  now  live.  They  have  five  children  : 
Chappell,  Mary,  Sarah,  James  and  Xellie. 

6.  Florence,  b.  Sept.  21,  1861,  m.  X.  C.  Headley,  May  9, 
1888  ; they  have  one  child,  a little  boy,  Edward. 

7.  Edward  McCarty,  b.  Oct.  15,  1864;  d.  Aug.  30,  1890. 
Xever  married. 

8.  Charles  A.,  b.  Xov.  20,  1868,  m.  Mattie  Wilson. 

All  of  these  children  and  grand-children,  except  Mrs.  Gill  and 
her  family,  live  in  Cadiz,  Kentucky.  They  are  all  good  looking,  re- 
fined and  well  educated  people.  The  two  sons,  John  J.  and  Charles 
A.,  with  their  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Headley,  have  succeeded  to 
their  father’s  mercantile  business  and  are  conducting  a general 
store,  under  the  name  of  “Chappell  Bros.  & Headley.”  They 
are  splendid  young  business  men. 

Florence  liv^es  with  her  father,  and  with  a daughter’s  devotion 
does  everything  in  her  power  to  add  to  his  happiness  ; she  is  a 
most  amiable  and  lovely  woman,  a brunette,  of  petite  figure,  but 
is  energetic,  and  a most  excellent  housekeeper  ; to  her  many  other 
good  qualities  and  accomplishments  is  added  that  of  a sincere 
Christian  mother  and  wife. 

EDWARD  M.  CHAPPELL. 

The  third  son  of  Dickie  Chappell  was  born  in  Kentucky,  but 
removed,  about  1852,  to  Washington  county,  Texas,  where  he 
married  Hester  Jackson.  They  had  no  children.  He  died  in 
June,  1883.  His  widow  still  surviv^es  him  and  makes  her  home  in 
Birmingham,  Ala.  Edward  was  decidedly  the  handsomest 
Chappell  I have  ever  known,  and  the  family  has  produced  some 
fine  looking  men.  I met  him  in  1865  ; he  was  tall,  spare  in 
person,  had  a dark  complexion,  bright,  black  eyes  and  black  hair — 
a very  Apollo  in  appearance.  He  was  then  in  the  prime  of  man- 
hood, and  was  extensively  engaged  in  business.  He  died  wealthy, 
leaving  no  child  to  perpetuate  his  name  or  inherit  his  fortune. 


* Since  deceased. 


100 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


THOMAS  W.  CHAPPELL. 

Thomas  removed  with  his  brother  Edward  to  Texas  in  1852, 
and  there  married  twice  ; first  a Miss  Atkinson,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  Dickie  and  Elizabeth.  The  former  is  dead;  the 
latter  married  John  J.  Jefferson,  a merchant  of  Cadiz,  Ky.  Lizzie 
is  a blonde,  and  a very  beautiful  woman ; in  character  and 
person  she  resembles  her  father,  who  was  a noble,  whole-souled, 
manly  man.  Thomas  Chappell’s  second  wife  was  a Miss  Sallis  ; 
by  her  he  had  two  children,  who  are  now  living  ; they  are  Edna 
and  John  L.  Both  reside  in  Washington  county,  Texas. 

I visited  my  uncle  and  his  sons  in  November,  1865,  at 
their  home  in  Texas,  and  my  recollections  of  the  former  are 
very  distinct.  He  was  a man  of  commanding  appearance,  fully 
six  feet  tall,  spare  and  erect ; his  skin  dark,  eyes  blue,  face  cleanly 
shaven,  as  w^as  customary  then,  and  his  countenance  kind  and 
benevolent.  My  uncle  bore  a very  striking  resemblance  to  my 
father,  and,  in  fact,  in  his  appearance,  manners  and  habits,  con- 
stantly reminded  me  of  him,  for  my  father  had  then  been  dead 
several  years.  He  had  the  same  nervous  activity  and  energy  that 
had  characterized  him. 

The  life  of  this  grand  old  man,  Dickie  Chappell,  deserves 
more  than  a passing  notice,  and  it  is  fit  that  I,  the  only  son  of  his 
only  brother,  w^hom  he  loved  so  well,  should,  sixty  years  after  they 
last  parted,  pay  this  tribute  to  his  memory. 

Born  just  as  this  nation  had  thrown  off  the  yoke  of  Great 
Britain  and  gained  its  independence  (1782),  he  lived  through 
eighteen  years  of  the  last  century  and  seventy  of  this.  How  many 
changes  he  saw,  and  what  w’onderful  progress  he  witnessed  in  the 
development  of  civilization  and  the  advancement  of  the  new  world  ! 
Born  in  Virginia,  he  did  not  wait  to  attain  his  majority,  but  with 
inborn  energy  and  love  for  adventure — a natural  pioneer — he  left 
his  home  at  19  and  made  his  way  to  the  wilds  of  Kentucky,  a 
country  then  just  opened  to  civilization,  and  located  in  Christian 
county,  in  the  western  part  of  the  state.  After  arriving  at  his 
new  home  he  taught  school  for  awhile,  but  soon  purchased  a tract 
of  800  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  that  country.  He 
made  no  mistake  in  selecting  a home,  for  a more  beautiful  or 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


101 


fertile  country  can  be  found  no  where.  He  soon  improved  this 
farm,  built  houses,  had  negroes  sufficient  to  cultivate  it,  and 
resumed  his  old  occupation,  tobacco  planting ; a crop  for  which 
the  soil  and  climate  were  especially  adapted.  This  part  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  the  adjoining  portion  of  Tennessee,  is  to-day  the  most 
productive  tobacco  belt  in  the  United  States.  This  farm  was  his 
home  for  fifty  years. 

I have  before  me  an  old  letter  written  in  Halifax  county,  Va., 
on  January  4,  1835,  by  my  father  (John  Chappell)  to  his  brother 
and  sister,  Jordan  and  Susannah  Compton,  of  Georgia,  in  which  he 
refers  to  a visit  he  had  recently  made  to  his  brother  Dickie 
while  on  his  first  trip  from  Virginia  to  Missouri  ; a journey  which 
he  made  on  horseback  in  company  with  his  friend,  Edward  Bruce 
of  Halifax,  and  which  required  three  months  of  constant  travel. 
He  wrote:  ‘T  returned  from  Missouri  by  brother  Dickie’s,  in 
Kentucky.  He  has  five  or  six  children,  owns  a splendid  planta- 
tion, makes  large  crops  every  year,  and  is,  perhaps,  as  happy  a 
man  as  can  be  found  in  a thousand.” 

Again  in  another  letter,  written  in  1855,  referring  to  his 
brother,  he  said:  “Brother  Dickie  has  lately  moved  to  Texas.  He 
is,  as  you  know,  a very  old  man,  and  was  so  well  fixed  in  Ken- 
tucky, that  I think  he  made  a mistake  in  moving.  He  has  a good 
estate  and  is  a mighty  good  man.  He  moved,  I think,  to  be  with 
his  children.  I judge,  from  a letter  received  from  him,  that  he  is 
not  well  satisfied,  and  I fear  he  will  never  be  happy  again.”  A 
very  strong  attachment  existed  between  these  two  brothers  and  a 
constant  correspondence  was  kept  up  between  them  as  long  as  they 
both  lived. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  my  uncle  divided  the  most  of  his 
estate  between  his  children,  and  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  reading  his  Bible  and  other  religious  works,  for  a 
more  sincere  and  devoted  Christian  never  lived.  On  July  1,  1870, 
at  the  age  of  88  years,  he  passed  away,  without  disease  and  with- 
out pain.  Like  a child  falling  asleep,  his  soul  took  its  flight, 
serenely  trusting  in  that  God  who  had  tenderly  watched  over  him 
for  so  many  years.  It  was  well  that  he  wffio  had  gone  through 
such  varied  scenes  of  strife,  conflict  and  trial  should  thus  fall 
asleep  ; it  was  a fitting  close  to  the  life  of  this  grand  good  man  ; 


102 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


a life  full  of  good  deeds,  of  simple  habits  and  unsullied  honesty. 
No  shadow  rests  on  the  memory  of  Dickie  Chappell.  The  light 
of  day  shone  clear  through  his  character  ; there  was  nothing  to 
disguise,  nothing  to  conceal.  Nature  does  not  produce  such  a 
man  in  every  generation.  May  his  grave  be  kept  green  and  his 
memory  ever  cherished  by  his  descendants. 

I can  not  close  this  sketch  of  the  life  of  this  noble  old 
man  without  narrating  the  following,  as  told  me  by  his  son, 
illustrating  the  Christian  piety  of  his  character.  He  says  : 
“For  many  years  before  removing  from  Kentucky,  it  was  his  daily 
habit,  after  walking  or  riding  over  the  plantation,  to  retire  to  a 
piece  of  woodland  secluded  and  out  of  sight  of  passers-by,  and 
there,  kneeling  by  the  side  of  a certain  log,  solitary  and  alone,  to 
offer  his  daily  prayer.  He  would  then  rise  from  his  knees,  mount 
his  horse  and  ride  to  the  house.” 


THE  WADE  FAMILY. 

I know  but  little  of  the  history  of  the  Wade  family  previous 
to  the  time  of  Richard  Wade,  who  married  Sarah  Chappell,  and 
in  fact  nothing  as  to  their  traditions. 

The  family  removed  to  Halifax  county,  from  the  older  set- 
tled part  of  Virginia,  probably  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  found  homes  there.  Richard  Wade  was  born  in  May, 
1782,  married  Sarah  Chappell,  the  second  child  and  oldest  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  Chappell,  nee  Dickie,  on  September  4,  1806, 
and  died  February  1,  1842,  aged  60.  She  was  born  April  7,  1785, 
and  died  in  April,  1874,  aged  89  years. 

This  good  old  couple  lived  out  their  days  and  died  near  Black 
Walnut  in  Halifax  county.  They  raised  nine  children,  all  of 
whom  married,  and  whose  names  were  as  follows  : 

1.  William  Henry,  b.  November  27,  1807.  On  becoming  of 
age  he  left  home  with  his  younger  brother,  John,  and  removed  to 
Tennessee.  They  were  bridge  builders  and  contractors,  and  built 
the  bridge  across  the  Tennessee  river  at  Muscle  Shoals.  From 


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103 


Tennessee  they  removed  to  Florence,  Ala.,  where  they  located 
permanently,  and  accumulated  fortunes.  It  is  believed  that  their 
descendants  yet  live  near  Florence. 

2.  Susan  Rebecca,  b.  February  8,  1809,  m.  Saurin  Stanford, 

September  13,  1827  ; their  children  were  as  follows  : William, 

Sarah,  Mary,  Richard,  Adaline,  Emma,  and  Fanny.  All  of  these 
lived  to  maturity,  married  and  have  families.  They  live  in  Orange 
county.  North  Carolina.  I received  some  time  since  an  interest- 
ing letter  from  Richard  Stanford  of  Mt.  Tirzah,  N.  C. , from 
which  I make  the  following  extract  : “I  was  a soldier  in  the 

Confederate  army  ; started  out  in  ’61  and  was  with  Lee  at  Appo- 
mattox. I kissed  my  sweetheart  when  I left  home,  and  kissed 
her  again  in  ’65,  and  have  been  kissing  her  ever  since.  We  mar- 
ried, and  started  out  to  raise  a family  of  giants.  You  can  see 
how  well  we  have  succeeded.  Clem,  our  oldest  son,  is  6 feet  7 
inches  tall,  and  weighs  230  pounds  ; Ralph  is  6 feet ; James  is  6 
feet  4 inches,  and  weighs  190  pounds — he  is  not  yet  21  ; Leland  is 
6 feet  and  weighs  180  pounds — he  is  16  years  old  ; Walter,  the 
youngest,  is  14,  and  bids  fair  to  be  as  large  as  his  brothers.  They 
are  all  well-formed,  athletic  men.”  The  wife  of  Richard  Stanford 
was  Miss  Louisiana  Townsend. 

3.  Mary,  b.  November  8,  1810,  m.  Yancy  Moore,  December 
20,  1827,  and  emigrated  to  West  Tennessee.  There  were  born  to 
them  thirteen  children — seven  boys  and  six  girls.  Most  of  the 
boys  became  successful  merchants,  and  were  well-to-do  people. 
Their  descendants  yet  live  in  Tennessee,  but  I regret  that  I have 
been  unable  to  obtain  any  further  information  of  them. 

4.  John  Dickie,  b.  January  8,  1813.  All  that  is  known  of 
him  has  been  said  in  connection  with  his  brother  William.  He 
died  many  years  ago  near  Florence,  Ala.,  and  left  a family  and  a 
large  estate. 

5.  Sarah  Elizabeth,  b.  February  18,  1816,  m.  Jefferson  War- 
ren, December  26,  1833.  They  emigrated  to  Warren  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  most  of  their  descendants  now  live.  They  had  nine 
children,  named  as  follows  : Ann,  Banks,  AYilliam,  Mary,  Mar- 
garet, Jennie,  Amanda,  George,  and  Philip.  William  returned  to 
Halifax  county,  Ya.,  and  now  lives  at  South  Boston.  Some  of 
the  others  live  in  Logan  county,  Ky. 


104 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


6.  George  Ellis,  was  born  March  4,  1818  ; removed,  on  be- 
coming of  age,  to  Tennessee,  but  returned  to  Halifax  county,  and 
on  November  13,  1844,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac  Palmer. 
Soon  after  his  marriage,  about  1853,  he  removed  with  his  father- 
in-law  to  Missouri,  and  located  in  Cole  county,  near  Jefferson 
City.  There  were  born  of  this  marriage  seven  children,  named  as 
follows  : Sarah,  Margaret,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Ernest,  Mary  and 
Virginia.  Sarah  married  Irvine  Oliver,  and  there  were  born  to  them 
two  boys.  The  oldest  was  named  after  the  writer — Philip  Chap- 
pell Oliver — and  is  now  a bright,  promising  young  man.  Mar- 
garet married  George  Noland.  Thomas  lives  at  Nevada,  Mo., 
Ernest  in  Oklahoma,  and  the  others  reside  near  the  old  home  in 
Cole  county.  George  E.  Wade  died  many  years  ago.  His  widow, 
a most  estimable  lady,  died  in  1894. 

7.  Richard  A.  was  born  January  17,  1820,  m.  Margaret  E. 
Adams,  daughter  of  Richard  Adams  (referred  to  in  the  Adams 
history),  on  February  26,  1842.  They  resided  in  Halifax  county 
until  the  close  of  the  last  war,  when  they  removed  to  Lamar 
county,  Texas,  where  he  died  August  23,  1893.  There  were  born 
to  these  parents  nine  children,  who  lived  to  maturity,  named  as 
follows  : Sarah,  Martha,  Mary,  John,  Absalom,  Thomas,  Richard, 
George  and  Maggie  Chappell.  These  are  all  industrious,  well-to-do 
people,most  of  them  are  farmers,  and  all  live  in  Lamar  Co.,  Texas. 

8.  Francis  Eliza,  or  Fanny  as  she  was  called,  was  born  March 
11,  1826.  She  married  Isaac  Oliver,  December  15,1847,  in  Halifax 
county,  and  emigrated,  about  1853,  to  Callaway  county.  Mo.  She 
now  lives  with  her  brother  Richard’s  family,  in  Lamar  county, 
Texas.  She  bears  a strong  family  resemblance  to  the  Chappells  as 
I have  known  them  ; is  tall,  dark  skinned,  and  has  blue  eyes  and 
black  hair.  She  is  an  intelligent  lady  and  well  educated  for  the 
times  in  which  she  was  raised  ; is  energetic  and  industrious,  and  is 
a zealous  Southern  Methodist.  She  has  three  children  now  living, 
the  oldest,  Walter,  is  married,  lives  in  Idaho,  and  is  a successful 
business  man  ; Amanda,  a daughter,  married  a Mr.  Shobe  and 
lives  in  St.  Louis.  Sidney,  the  youngest  son,  is  single,  and  is  a 
business  man,  living  in  Memphis,  Tenn. 

9.  Amanda  Chappell,  the  youngest  daughter,  was  born 
October  6,  1827,  married  John  R.  Adams,  son  of  Richard,  August 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


10^ 


22,1849.  They  never  left  Halifax  county.  There  were  born  to 
this  couple  two  children,  Luther  C.,  who  married  Laura  Bradshaw, 
and  Sarah  Chappell,  who  married  George  Oliver  ; both  of  these 
children  of  John  R.  Adams  reside  in  the  old  neighborhood  in 
Halifax,  and  are  industrious,  wmrthy  people,  and  each  have  children. 
Amanda  C.  Adams  died  October  5,  1853.  (See  Chapter  XI.) 

Tlie  name  “Sarah  Wade”  will  long  be  remembered  by  her 
descendants  and  relatives,  and  her  virtues  constitute  her  most 
enduring  monument.  Her  children,  as  they  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  married  and  sought  in  the  more  fertile  lands  of  the 
South  and  West  new  homes;  for  they  were  generally  farmers  and 
planters.  But  she  never  left  the  old  neighborhood  in  which  she  was 
raised  and  in  which  she  continued  to  reside  for  nearly  a century. 
I visited  her  old  home — the  house  to  which  her  husband  had  taken 
her  when  a bride.  It  was  built  in  1801 — the  date  of  its  con- 
struction is  indellibly  chiseled  on  the  chimney.  It  is  an  old  house 
now,  quaintly  built,  with  large  fire-places,  high  mantels  and 
exceedingly  small  windows,  but  it  is  still  in  a fair  state  of  preser- 
vation and  w^as  substantially  built.  The  nails  used  ivere  hand 
made,  by  a country  blacksmith.  For  a third  of  a century  she  lived 
a wddow,  but  such  was  her  industry  and  good  management  that  she 
not  only  raised  a large  family  but  accumulated  a good  estate,  which 
she  left  to  her  children. 

After  visiting  the  house  I went  to  the  old  family  cemetery 
near  by,  which  w^as  surrounded  by  a cluster  of  cedar  trees,  and 
stood  beside  the  grave  of  my  venerable  aunt  ; she  who  had  been 
not  only  a sister,  but  a mother,  to  my  father  in  his  orphanage.  I 
shall  never  forget  the  scene,  for  it  was  a beautiful  Sabbath  evening^ 
in  October,  and  the  sun  was  setting  clear  and  bright  in  the  West. 
In  the  circle  which  stood  around  the  grave  were  the  grand-children 
and  great-grand-children  of  this  good  woman.  She  who  for  so  long 
a time  had  lived  the  life  of  a Christian,  devoted  to  her  children,  and 
considering  no  sacrifice  too  great  to  be  made  for  them.  It  is  said 
our  good  deeds  live  after  us.  Certainly  if  ever  one  lived  for  a 
good  purpose  in  this  world,  and  died  leaving  a good  example  for 
her  children,  it  was  Sarah  Wade.  Her  descendants  are  numerous 
now,  and  have  found  homes  all  over  the  Southern  and  Western 
states,  but  wherever  they  may  be  found  they  are  honest,  industrious- 
8- 


106 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  law-abiding  citizens,  and  have  brought  no  reproach  to  the 
memory  of  their  honored  ancestress  or  their  family  name. 

While  in  the  old  neighborhood  in  Halifax  county  I visited 
“Black  Walnut  church,”  and  nearby  the  old  “Bold  spring” — names 
which  will  be  familiar  to  many  of  my  readers.  The  church  is  now 
a dilapidated  building,  fast  going  to  decay  and  ruin,  but  the  spring 
is  still  there,  just  as  it  was  a hundred  years  ago,  and  from  its 
depths  bubbles  the  cold,  lucid  waters  which  flow  oil  in  a beautiful 
stream.  What  thoughts  arose  in  my  mind  as  I stood  on  this  sacred 
ground  ? The  appearance  of  nature  is  now  as  it  was  then.  The 
hills  and  forests  are  there,  the  spring  from  which  they  drank  is 
there,  but  the  Adams,  the  Wades,  the  Garlingtons,  the  Comptons 
the  Chappells — those  whose  memories  are  so  dear  to  us,  and  who 
met  under  the  shades  of  these  grand  old  pines  to  worship  God  at 
this  old  country  church  in  the  long,  long  ago, — where  are  they  ? 
Not  one  is  left. 

“Historic  ground,  thou  boldest  sacred  dust, 

But  memory  greets  with  reverential  kiss, 

No  spot,  in  all  the  world,  so  dear  as  this.” 


THE  COMPTON  FAMILY. 

Susan,  or  Susannah  as  the  name  was  originally  called,  was  the 
second  daughter  and  third  child  of  John  and  Sarah  Chappell,  nee 
Dickie,  of  Halifax  county,  Va.,  and  was  born  in  that  county 
December  12,  1786,  and  married  Jordan  Compton,  the  fourth 
child  and  second  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Cross)  Compton  of  Din- 
widdle county,  Va.,  May  10,  1807. 

They  immediately  emigrated  to  Oglethorpe  county,  Ga.,  with 
the  family  of  John  Compton,  and  after  residing  there  a year 
removed  to  Monticello,  the  county  seat  of  Randolph  county,  now 
Jasper  county,  Ga.  After  a residence  there  of  a year,  during 
which  he  was  clerk  of  the  Superior  court  of  the  county,  they 
removed  to  their  plantation,  six  miles  west  of  that  town,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


107 


The  Comptons  are  an  old  family  of  Virginia,  and  were  a 
numerous  one  in  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.  In 
examining  the  county  records  in  that  state  I frequently  came  across 
the  name,  sometimes  spelled  “Cumpton.”  Among  others  I found 
in  the  Amelia  records  the  will  of  one  John  Compton,  filed  for 
probate  August  22,  1771,  in  which  his  children  are  named.  He 
left  a large  estate,  consisting  of  lands  and  negroes.  His  wife, 
Rachael,  and  son,  Richard,  were  named  in  the  will  as  his  executors. 
The  name  was  often  found  in  the  Halifax  county  records  and  I have 
furnished  Major  J.  C.  Compton,  of  Selma,  Ala.,  a memorandum  of 
the  information  obtained  in  Virginia  ; doubtless  a more  thorough 
examination  would  yield  much  in  addition  to  that  casually  jotted 
down  by  me. 

Susan  Compton  was  slightly  above  the  average  height,  was 
slender  in  figure  and  had  black  hair  and  dark  eyes.  In  her  man- 
ners she  was  reserved  and  self-possessed  ; she  had  a calm  temper, 
with  uncommon  tact,  patience,  perseverance  and  industry,  and  a 
strong  will ; she  was  pious,  without  demonstration,  and  loved  her 
husband  and  children  devotedly. 

Her  husband  was  an  officer  in  command  of  a company  of  horse, 
on  the  coast  of  Georgia,  in  the  war  of  1812,  with  Great  Britain, 
and  in  his  absence  she  managed  his  affairs  with  marked  success. 
Their  home  was  one  of  the  most  noted  and  hospitable  in  that 
country.  Both  of  them  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church  for 
fifty  years. 

Jordan  Compton  died  May  30,  1864,  at  the  age  of  82  years, 
and  Susan  Compton  died  Dec.  14,  1874,  at  the  age  of  88  years. 
The  longevity  of  these  four  children  of  John  and  Sarah  Chappell, 
is  remarkable.  Sarah  Wade,  the  oldest  sister,  died  at  the  age  of 
89  years,  and  in  the  same  year  in  which  her  sister  died. 
Dickie  Chappell,  died  July  1st,  1870,  aged  88  years,  and  John 
Chappell,  the  youngest  son,  died  March  16,  1860,  aged  72  years — 
the  average  life  of  the  brothers  and  sisters  was  84  years. 

Twelve  children  were  born  to  Jordan  and  Susan  Compton  ; 
three  of  whom,  Chappell  Dickie,  Sarah  Dickie,  and  James  Law- 
rence, died  in  childhood  or  in  early  life.  Their  other  children 
were:  Eliza,  Pleasant  M.,  Susan  C.,  Elizabeth,  Rhoda,  Emily, 
Jordan  Reese,  Frances  and  Catherine. 


108 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


ELIZA  COMPTON. 

Eliza  was  born  May  31,  1809,  and  married  Woody  Dozier. 
They  resided  many  years  in  Alabama  and  removed  to  Arkansas, 
where  they  died.  She  died  July  10,  1850.  They  had  ten  children 
of  whom  the  following  survive  : 

1.  Mary  C.,  born  1829  ; m.  Robert  J.  Bickerstaff,  January 
30,  1848.  Issue  now  living  are  : 

I.  Herschel,  b.  1848  ; m.  Lonada  Spivey.  Live  in  Lee 
county,  Ark.,  and  have  8 children. 

II.  Robertson,  b.  1858  ; m.  Maggie  Sanders.  Have  3 
children.  Is  a merchant  at  Mariana,  Ark. 

III.  Lillian,  b.  1863  ; m.  John  Sims  (1883.)  They  have  2 

children.  Live  in  Lee  county. 

IV.  Andrew,  b.  1865  ; m.,  and  has  one  child.  Merchant 

at  Mariana,  Ark. 

2.  Sarah  Frances,  b.  Aug.  4,  1835  ; m.  Geo.  W.  Webb,  a 
merchant  at  Opelika,  Ala.  He  died  at  Sardiss,  Miss.,  1877.  Issue, 
one  child,  Clara  A.  Her  mother  m.  (II)  E.  P.  Sutton,  March  7, 
1893,  of  Panola,  Va. 

3.  Emily,  b.  July  17,  1837,  m.  Rev.  Robert  P.  Davant,  Jan- 
nary  28,  1858.  He  was  a distinguished  officer  in  the  Confederate 
States  army  ; has  been  a teacher  and  a minister  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  now  has  charge  of  the  church  at  Wharton,  Texas. 
They  have  the  following  children  : 

I.  Martha  E.,  b.  Nov.  12,  1858;  m.  M.  W.  Prewett,  of 
Forrest  City,  Ark.,  Apr.  5,  1876  ; d.  March  26,  1884. 
Have  three  sons  living. 

II.  Robert  Chester,  b.  January  24,  1861  ; m.  Elizabeth 
English,  Dec.  6,  1887. 

III.  Charles  Reese,  b.  Feb’y  11,  1867  ; resides  at  Beau- 

mont, Texas. 

IV.  Emma  V.,  b.  June  5,  1871  ; m.  Elisha  Embree,  of 
Belton,  Texas,  Dec.  27,  1893. 

Philip  O.,  b.  July  25,  1879  ; resides  at  Wharton, 
Texas  ; an  employee  of  a bank. 


V. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  EAMILIES. 


109 


4.  Jason  G.  Dozier,  was  born  May,  1839  ; m.  Rose  Elder, 
1860  ; died  in  1871,  from  the  effects  of  a wound  received  as  a Con- 
federate soldier,  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  (Stone  River),  Tenn. 
He  was  a successful  farmer.  Has  two  sons  and  a daughter  living 
in  Lee  county.  Ark. 

5.  Ann  C.,  b.  June  26,  1841;  m.  Rev.  W.  H.  Paslay,  a 
Baptist  minister,  in  Arkansas.  They  have  three  children  : 

I.  William  H. , b.  March  21,  1876. 

II.  Woody  D.,  b.  May  20,  1879. 

III.  Robert  E.,  b.  Eeb’y  8,  1881. 

6.  James  J.,  born  July  1,  1843  ; m.  Isora  Crabb,  1868.  Issue, 
5 children,  names  unknown.  Is  a farmer  in  Lee  county.  Ark. 

7.  Elizabeth  Malone,  b.  1845  ; m.  Andrew  C.  Wood  of  Eor- 
rest  City,  Ark.,  where  he  is  a prominent  man  and  a successful 
planter.  Has  held  many  important  offices  in  St.  Erancis  county. 
Ark.  Issue  ; 

I.  George  P.,  b.  Oct.  10,  1870  ; is  a graduate  of  Ken- 
tucky University. 

II.  Andrew  C.,  b.  Nov.  20,  1877. 

HI.  Anna  L.,  b.  Oct.  31,  1874  ; graduated  at  Normal  Col- 
lege of  Winchester,  and  married  Brooking  Adkins, 
of  Liberty,  Mo. 

The  tracing  of  genealogies  becomes  intensly  interesting  and 
sometimes  leads  to  strange  discoveries.  The  town  of  Liberty  is  only 
ten  miles  from  Kansas  City.  On  learning  that  my  young  relative, 
whom  I had  never  seen,  lived  there,  I availed  myself  of  the  first 
opportunity  to  call  on  her  and  make  her  acquaintance.  I found 
her  a beautiful  and  intelligent  young  woman,  and  happily  married 
to  a very  worthy  young  man.  It  is  a strange  coincidence  that 
there  are  now  living  in  Kansas  City  and  the  vicinity,  five  rep- 
resentatives of  distinct  branches  of  the  Chappell  family.  None  of 
these  are  closely  related,  but  the  descent  of  each  can  be  distinctly 
traced  to  the  original  parent  stock  in  Virginia. 

8.  Eliza  A.,  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Woody  and  Eliza 
Dozier.  She  was  born  June  28,  1850  ; m.  George  W.  Henderson 
in  1870.  He  was  a prosperous  farmer,  and  died  in  1878.  They 
have  two  children,  George  E.,  and  Eliza  P.  They  all  live  at 
Brinkley,  Ark. 


110 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


PLEASANT  M.  COMPTON. 

Pleasant  Madison,  was  born  Sept.  13,  1810,  and  married  Lydia 
R.  Devereaux,  the  only  child  of  James  and  Letitia  (Hall)  Dever- 
©aux,  of  Bordentown,  N.  J.  Letitia  (Hall)  Devereaux  was  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Harrison)  Hall.  Rebecca  Harri- 
son was  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  Harrison,  who  was  a member 
of  the  well  known  Harrison  family  of  Virginia.  The  Halls  and 
Harrisons  were  from  Maryland  and  Virginia,  respectively.  James 
Devereaux  was  of  English  descent.  Pleasant  Compton,  on  reach- 
ing his  maturity,  removed  to  the  county  of  Butts,  Ga.,  where  he 
located  in  the  town  of  Jackson  and  engaged  in  a mercantile  busi- 
ness. While  representing  his  county,  as  a Whig,  in  the  Georgia 
Legislature,  in  1840,  he  was  elected  by  that  body  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral of  the  state,  an  important  and  lucrative  office.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Milledgeville,  the  capital  of  the  state.  He  held  this 
office  for  ten  years.  His  excellent  business  qualifications  and 
habits,  high  character  and  genial  manners,  made  him  one  of  the 
best  known  public  men  of  the  state.  He  was  afterwards,  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  an  active  business  man  of  Milledgeville,  and 
died  March  19th,  1890,  nearly  80  years  old.  He  left  a large  estate. 
Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Pleasant  M.  Compton  and  Lydia, 
seven  lived  to  maturity.  They  were  as  follows  : 


J.  C.  COMPTON. 

Jordan  Chappell  Compton,  the  eldest  child,  was  born  Dec.  25,. 
1839.  He  was  educated  at  the  celebrated  Quaker  school  at  Alex- 
andria, Va.,  and  at  Oglethorpe  University,  Ga.;  was  a law  student 
when  the  war  began,  and  went  immediately  into  the  Confederate 
Army  ; was  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  until  after  the 
series  of  battles  before  Richmond,  in  1862  ; was  then  transferred 
to  the  Western  Army  and  was  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Henry 
Heth  during  the  Kentucky  campaign.  After  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn.,  he  was  ordered  to  Vicksburg,  and  during  the  siege 
of  that  city  was  the  artillery  officer  in  charge  of  all  the  ammuni- 
tion belonging  to  the  besieged  army,  a place  of  great  responsibility 


CHAPPELL,  DI(  KIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


Ill 


and  peril.  He  was  afterwards  the  second  officer  in  command  of 
the  Selma  arsenal,  the  largest  in  the  Confederate  States. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Ada  Norris, 
daughter  of  William  J.  Norris,  president  of  the  Commercial  Bank 
of  Alabama,  located  at  Selma  ; was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  general  practice  to  the  present  time. 

Major  Compton  has,  notwithstanding  his  active  practice  in 
his  profession,  found  time  to  take  a hand  occasionally  in  politics,, 
as  every  good  citizen  should.  In  1884  he  was  a delegate  to  the 
National  Democratic  convention  in  Chicago.  In  1886,  was  elected 
without  opposition  to  the  state  senate,  and  was  re-elected  in  1890  ; 
during  the  sessions  of  1888-89,  90-91  was  chairman  of  the  Judiciary 
committee  of  the  senate  ; at  the  session  of  1892  was  unanimously 
elected  president  of  the  senate,  and  now  holds  that  office.  He  has 
two  children. 

I.  William  Norris,  b.  March  16,  1868.  Is  a graduate 
of  the  State  University,  and  is  now  a book-keeper  in 
the  Commercial  Bank  of  Selma,  Ala.  He  is  an 
excellent  young  business  man,  and  has  a promising 
future. 

II.  Louise,  was  born  April  26,  1874.  She  is  quite  a 
pretty  and  accomplished  young  lady. 

J.  Chappell  Compton  is  a very  handsome  man,  is  five  feet  ten 
inches  tall,  and  weighs  180  pounds  ; he  has  dark  blue  eyes,  and 
hair  once  black,  but  now  streaked  with  gray  ; has  a florid  com- 
plexion and  a smoothly-shaven  face,  beaming  with  kindness.  I 
have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  my  kinsman  personally, 
but  have  had  an  extensive  correspondence  with  him,  and  have  re- 
ceived much  valuable  information  and  encouragement  in  the  prep- 
aration of  this  work.  The  descendants  of  my  aunt,  Susan  Comp- 
ton, should  feel  under  obligations  to  him  for  the  pains  he  has 
taken  to  gather  the  names,  dates,  etc.,  of  the  different  branches  of 
the  family  as  given  in  this  sketch. 

2.  Charles  W.,  was  the  second  child  ; he  was  born  May  20, 
1844.  Left  college  to  enter  the  Confederate  army,  where  he 
greatly  distinguished  himself.  He  married  Emma  Bass,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1868,  was  a successful  merchant  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  30,  1884.  He  had  three  children,  viz  : 


112 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


I.  Hansell  W.,  b.  December  5,  1869,  is  a merchant  at 
Milledgeville,  Ga. 

II.  Lilly  Beall,  b.  January  5,  1872,  m.  Dr.  Richard 
Hutchings,  September  6,  1893.  Dr.  Hutchings  is  a 
Georgian,  is  an  accomplished  physician,  and  is  now 
a surgeon  at  the  State  Hospital  at  Ogdensburg, 
New  York. 

III.  James  Chappell,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in  1878 
and  died  in  1882. 

3.  Lyman  Hall,  b.  October  24,  1846  ; educated  at  the  Georgia 
Miliary  Institute  ; is  a merchant  at  Milledgeville  ; unm. 

4.  Mary  Letitia,  b.  November  25,  1850,  m.  Col.  Bushrod  W. 
Frobel  of  Virginia,  November  25,  1868.  Col.  Frobel  was  an  ac- 
complished gentleman,  had  served  as  an  officer  in  the  U.  S.  Navy, 
and  in  the  Engineer  Corps  of  the  U.  S.  Army.  Pie  was  a colonel 
of  engineers  in  the  Confederate  Army,  and  greatly  distinguished 
himself  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  in  the  Atlantic 
campaign.  He  was,  after  the  war,  vice  president  and  general 
manager  of  the  Macon  and  Covington  railroad.  He  died  in  1886, 
left  a large  estate  and  two  children. 

I.  Lilly,  b.  February  18,  1870,  m.  Lemuel  L.  Alston, 
October  22,  1890,  d.  December  29,  1891.  She  was 
a beautiful  and  an  accomplished  woman. 

II.  Ada  Marshall,  b.  March  9,  1872,  m.  James  H.  Horah 
of  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  July  5,  1893.  Mr.  Horah  is  a 
lawyer,  and  resides  at  Williamsport,  Pa. 

5.  Laura  Bethune,  b.  December  15,  1853,  m.  Otto  Miller,  a 
-successful  merchant.  He  died  in  1878,  and  his  widow  lives  in 
Milledgeville,  Ga.  Issue  : 

I.  Henrietta,  b.  March  8,  1875. 

II.  Pleasant  Compton,  b.  October  4,  1876. 

6.  Anna  Belle,  b.  August  25,  1857,  m.  (2) — (1)  Dr.  H.  B. 
Lee,  (2)  Edgar  S.  Chambless,  January  27,  1891.  They  reside  at 
Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  and  have  no  children. 

7.  Guy  David,  b.  March  11,  1860,  m.  Ida  Richards,  May  27, 
1891.  Issue:  one  son,  Guy  Richards,  b.  November  20,  1893. 
He  is  a graduate  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at 
Baltimore,  and  is  now  practicing  his  profession  at  Perry, 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


113 


Oklahoma.  I have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  my  kinsman — Dr. 
Compton.  He  is  a large  man,  fully  six  feet  tall,  and  weighs 
200  pounds  ; has  light  hair,  blue  eyes  and  a very  fair  com- 
plexion, and  is  an  accomplished  and  refined  gentleman — a typ- 
ical Southerner  in  appearance  and  manners. 


SUSAN  C.  COMPTON. 

Susan  Caroline  was  the  third  child  of  Jordan  and  Susan 
Compton.  She  was  born  July  12,  1816,  married  Andrew  R. 
Bickerstaff  on  January  17,  1838.  They  removed  to  Tallapoosa 
county,  Ala.,  where  they  lived  out  their  lives.  He  died  August  6, 
1862.  She  died  April  8,  1888,  aged  71.  Mr.  Bickerstaff  was  a 
man  of  high  character  and  great  energy,  and  was  wealthy  before 
1861  ; owning  the  large  plantation  on  which  he  resided,  and 
many  slaves.  There  were  born  of  this  marriage  the  following 
children  : 

1.  Mary,  b.  Nov.  6,  1838,  ra.  Geo.  W.  Webb,  November, 
1859.  She  died  July  3,  1865,  leaving  one  child,  Fanny,  now  liv- 
ing at  Waverly,  Ala. 

2.  Susan,  b.  Dec.  2,  1840,  m.  John  W.  Russell,  d.  Dec.  16, 
1889.  No  children. 

3.  Robert  Jordan,  b.  Dec.  19,  1842.  He  was  killed  in  the 
Confederate  Army,  in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  near  Richmond, 
July  1,  1862. 

4.  Fannie,  b.  June  8,  1845,  resides  at  Waverly,  Ala.,  with 
ber  sister. 

5.  Cordelia,  b.  Nov.  10,  1847,  m.  Seaborn  Holstun,  Feb.  6, 
1868.  Issue: 

I.  Arthur  W.,  b.  Nov.  13,  1868. 

II.  Pleasant  Reese,  b.  Feb.  6,  1872. 

III.  Claude,  b.  March  12,  1874. 

IV.  Maude,  b.  July  4,  1876. 

V.  Bessie,  b.  April  18,  1883. 

6.  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  11,1852,  d.  Nov.  20,  1869. 

7.  Andrew  Chappell,  b.  Sept.  23,  1854,  has  never  married, 
and  resides  on  his  plantation  near  Waverly,  Ala. 


114 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


ELIZABETH  COMPTON. 

Elizabeth  was  the  fourth  child  of  Jordan  Compton.  She  was 
born  May  22,  1819,  married  Floyd  Malone  and  died  June 
10,  1864.  She  was  a beautiful  woman,  with  black  eyes  and  hair 
and  a clear  olive  complexion.  Floyd  Malone  was  a man  of  prom- 
inence, was  very  wealthy,  and  resided  on  a fine  plantation  in 
Jasper  county,  Ga.  They  left  the  following  issue  : 

1.  William  Henry  m.  Mattie  Kimball.  Issue : Leonidas, 
Mary,  Hattie,  Susan,  Blanton,  Bessie,  Henry  and  David. 

2.  Frank  J.  m.  Jennie  Lane.  Issue : Cora,  Mary,  Lucy, 
Georgia,  Ella,  Fanny,  Jesse,  Ruth,  John,  Floyd,  Thomas  and 
Grover.  From  the  latter  name  it  is  presumed  there  are  some  young 
Democrats  in  the  family. 

3.  Lucy  m.  Frank  D.  McDowell,  a very  successful  merchant 
and  farmer.  Issue  : Michael,  William,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth  and 
Frederick.  All  of  the  above  live  on  their  farms  near  Monti- 
cello,  Ga. 

4.  Stephen  F.  m.  India  Freeman.  Issue  : Lois,  Minnie  and 
Bryant. 

5.  Elizabeth  C.  m.  Capt.  W.  J.  M.  Preston,  a successful  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Jasper  county,  Ga.  Capt.  Preston  is  a man 
of  ability,  has  represented  his  county  in  the  legislature  and  has 
held  other  important  positions.  They  have  no  children. 

RHODA  COMPTON. 

Rhoda  was  the  fifth  child  of  her  parents.  She  was  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1824,  married  Robt.  Greer,  and  died  January  24,  1850. 
Issue  : 

1.  Susan  P.  m.  Capt.  Leonidas  Lane.  They  reside  at  the 
old  Compton  homestead,  near  Monticello.  Issue  : Annie,  Lucy, 
Bertha,  Peal,  Lee,  Compton,  James,  Guy  and  Ralph. 

2.  Robert  J.  m.  Hattie  McDowell.  They  reside  on  their 
plantation  on  the  Ocmulgee  river,  in  Jasper  county,  Ga.,  and  have 
been  very  successful.  Issue  : Bessie,  Julius,  Troy,  Olivia,  Mattie 
and  Jasper. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


115 


EMILY  COMPTON. 

Emily  was  the  sixth  child  of  Jordan  and  Susan  Compton.  She 
was  born  October  5,  1825,  married  Charles  A.  Nutting,  and  died 
August  6,  1852.  She  was  a beautiful  and  an  accomplished  woman. 
Mr.  Nutting  was  the  joint  owner,  with  another,  of  a large 
cotton  mill  near  the  Compton  homestead,  which  was  destroyed  by 
the  Federal  army  in  1864.  He  was  president  of  the  City  Bank  of 
Macon  and  owned  large  mining  interests  in  Colorado.  He  greatly 
distinguished  himself  in  the  Georgia  Legislature  during  the  recon- 
struction period  and  afterwards,  in  assisting,  by  wise  legislation, 
in  placing  the  state  on  a solid  financial  basis.  He  became  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  of  the  state.  Two  children  were  born  of  this 
marriage. 

1.  Ellen,  who  died  when  12  years  old. 

2.  Annie,  b.  July  11,  1848,  m.  Benjamin  P.  Walker,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  April  28,  1869. 

Mr.  Walker  has  been  a successful  merchant  of  Macon,  Ga. ; 
now  resides  at  Thomasville.  They  have  three  children. 

I.  Cora  Compton,  b.  March  5,  1870. 

II.  Benjamin  P.,  Jr.,  b.  October  10,  1872. 

III.  Charles  Nutting,  b.  March  3,  1875. 

JORDAN  REESE  COMPTON. 

Jordan  Reese  was  born  July  28,  1828.  He  has  never  married  ; 
is  quite  wealthy,  and  makes  his  home  at  Monticello,  Ga.,  but 
spends  much  of  his  time  in  Atlanta.  He  has  retired  from 
business,  is  a man  of  high  character,  and  much  esteemed,  and  is 
the  only  male  descendant  now  living  of  Susannah  Compton  of  his 
generation. 

FRANCES  COMPTON. 

Frances  was  the  eighth  child  ; she  was  born  June  23,  1831, 
and  married  Wm.  K.  Pope.  She  died  August  23,  1850,  leaving 
one  child,  Charles  W.  Pope,  who  married  Mary  Hunter;  they  reside 
on  their  farm  near  Monticello, Ga.,  and  have  the  following  children: 
Fannie,  Charles,  Kirby,  Lucy,  Pauline,  Corinne  and  Glover. 


116 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CATHARINE  COMPTON. 

Catharine,  the  youngest  child  of  Jordan  and  Susan  Comp- 
ton, was  born  March  30,  1833,  and  married  Stephen  Johnston. 
They  resided  on  their  line  plantation  in  Jasper  county,  Ga.,  until 
a few  years  ago,  when  they  removed  to  Monticello.  They  have 
two  children. 

1.  Imogene,  who  married  George  W.  Persons,  a gentleman 
of  high  character  and  worth  ; they  reside  at  Monticello,  and  Mr. 
Persons  is  a merchant  and  planter.  They  have  the  following 
children  : Ernest,  Fannie,  Imogene,  Clarence,  Clifford  and  James. 

I have  had  some  correspondence  with  Mrs.  Persons.  She  is 
an  accomplished,  educated  and  refined  Southern  lady,  and  like 
many  other  noble  women  of  the  family,  reveres  the  memory  of  her 
ancestors,  and  treasures  their  traditions. 

2.  Reese  L.  Johnston  was  born  September  17,  1854,  married 
Ella  McDowell,  and  died  in  1891,  leaving  two  children,  Chappell 
Johnston,  aged  14,  and  Emma,  aged  11  years. 

Mrs.  Catharine  Johnston  is  now  about  60  years  old.  She  has 
been  a widow  since  1887,  and  is  spoken  of  as  being  an  amiable, 
pious  and  an  intelligent  woman.  She  and  her  brother  Reese  are 
the  only  surviving  children  of  Jordan  and  Susan  Compton,  nee 
Chappell. 

It  will  be  observed  that  among  the  descendants  of  Jordan  and 
Susan  Compton,  by  blood  and  marriage,  were  many  successful  and 
jirominent  men.  Among  these  were  Floyd  Malone,  Andrew  R. 
Bickerstaff,  Chas.  A.  Nutting,  J.  R.  Compton  and  Stephen  N. 
Johnston.  These  were  all  recognized  as  wealthy  men,  as  the  word 
was  used  in  1860  ; those  who  were  engaged  in  planting  were  of  the 
very  best  type  of  the  Southern  planter  and  slave  owner.  The 
descendants  of  the  family,  as  far  as  known,  who  are  farmers  and 
planters,  own  their  farms  and  plantations,  and  are  a well-to-do, 
thrifty  race,  industrious  and  energetic.  The  family  are  intelligent, 
and  all  of  the  younger  members  are  being  educated  at  the  best 
schools  and  colleges  in  the  country,  and  several  are  preparing  for 
professional  courses. 

Physically  the  Comptons,  like  the  other  descendants  of  John 
Chappell  and  Sarah  Dickie,  the  Dickie  and  John  Chappell  and 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIXDEED  FAMILIES. 


117 


Wade  families,  are  of  two  distinct  types  ; many  of  them  are 
brunettes,  with  black  hair  and  black  eyes,  and  some  of  the  females 
are  remarkably  handsome  women  ; others  are  of  the  blonde 
type,  and  entirely  different  in  appearance,  as  much  so  as  if  there 
were  no  relationship.  I have  from  a personal  acquaintance 
observed  this  marked  difference  in  every  branch  of  the  family,  and 
have  referred  elsewhere  to  this  peculiarity.  The  description  of 
the  Dickie  sisters,  that  has  come  down  to  us,  is  that  they  were 
blondes,  and  many  of  their  descendants  have  been  of  the  same 
physical  type. 

The  Comptons  are  strong  and  vigorous  men  and  women,  and 
as  will  be  observed,  the  family  has  been  a prolific  one.  It  is  said 
there  has  been  no  insanity,  imbecility  or  deformity  in  any  branch. 
It  seems  strange  that  no  child  that  was  given  the  good  old  Scotch 
name  “Dickie”  lived  to  maturity,  the  name  “Chappell,”  however, 
has  been  perpetuated  in  every  branch  to  the  present  generation. 
Many  of  the  Comptons  yet  live  in  Georgia  ; others  have 
immigrated  to  Alabama,  Arkansas  and  Texas.  Among  the  different 
branches  of  the  Chappell  family  there  are  perhaps  none  superior  in 
intelligence,  refinement  and  culture  to  the  descendants  of  Jordan 
and  Susannah  Compton. 


118 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Robert,  James  and  Samuel,  Sons  of  John  and  Prudence 

Chappell — William,  the  Tennessee  Branch. 

Robert  Chappell,  or  “Captain  Robin  Chappell,”  as  he  was 
'"ailed,  for  he  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  was  the 
Idest  son  of  John  and  Prudence  Chappell,  of  Amelia  county,  Va., 
and  was  probably  born  about  the  time  that  his  father  and  grand- 
mother, Sarah  Crawley,  removed  to  that  county  from  Prince 
George  (1746).  He  married  Mary  Tucker  in  Amelia.  The  date 
of  this  marriage  is  unknown,  but  it  was  probably  about  1776.  At 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  he  removed  to  Halifax  with  his 
brothers  and  other  relatives,  and  the  first  account  we  have  of  him 
there  was  on  March  10,  1782,  when  he  bought  a tract  of  land, 
doubtless  for  a home. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  this  couple,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters  ; their  births  were  in  the  order  named.  They  were 
Joel,  Robert,  John,  Nancy,  Ursula,  Prudence  and  Martha. 

1.  Joel  Chappell  married  Tabitha  Light  December  5,  1800. 
They  had  nine  children,  whose  names  were  as  follows  : William, 
John,  Robert,  Mary,  Anna,  Winfred,  Ursula,  Martha  and  Tabitha. 
Joel  Chappell  removed  with  his  family  to  Madison  county,  Tenn., 
where  his  children  married,  and  where  their  descendants,  it  is  sup- 
posed, yet  live.  Of  these  children,  William  died  a bachelor  ; John 
married  and  had  four  children  ; the  name  of  his  wife  is  unknown. 
Robert  married  a Miss  Congo.  Mary  married  John  Phelps  ; they 
had  no  children.  Winfred  married  Paul  O.  Anderson  ; they  had 
nine  children.  Tabitha  married  James  Hinton.  The  other  three 
daughters  died  young  and  never  married. 

2.  Robert  Chappell  was  the  second  son  of  Robert.  He 
married  Joanna  Light.  She  was  born  December  24,  1783,  and 
died  November  17,  1850,  and  her  husband  died  July  20,  1859,  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  80  years.  There  were  seven  children  born  of 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES.  119 

this  marriage,  one  son  and  six  daughters  ; their  names  were  : 
Thomas,  Martisha,  Octavia,  Jannetta,  Ossa,  Helen  and  Artamesha. 
Of  these  Thomas  died  an  old  bachelor  ; Jannetta  married  Edwin  S. 
Hunt  ; they  emigrated  to  Graves  county,  Ky.,  and  had  one  child, 
who  married  James  Lockridge.  Ossa  married  John  L.  Tucker, 
and  emigrated  to  Carroll  county,  Tenn.;  they  had  four  children. 
Of  the  other  four  daughters,  none  were  ever  married,  and  Helen  is 
the  only  one  now  living.  She  is  now  an  elderly  maiden  lady,  and 
it  is  from  her  that  most  of  the  information  in  relation  to  this 
branch  has  been  obtained,  although  the  dates  are  taken  from  the 
records  of  Halifax  county.  She  lives  on  her  own  plantation,  where 
she  has  lived  for  many  years,  near  Meadville,  in  the  northern  part 
of  Halifax  county.* 

3.  John  died  in  1825,  an  old  bachelor,  and  left  a will,  which 
is  on  file  in  Halifax  county.  His  estate  consisted  principally  of 
negroes.  He  was  the  youngest  son,  and  died  four  years  before  his 
father. 

^ 4.  Nancy  m.  Dr.  Richard  Holland  July  3,  1800.  Issue  : 

Four  children  ; only  two  of  whom  (Robert  Chappell  and  Mary) 

lived  to  maturity.  Mary,  m.  Martin,  of  Smith  county,  Tenn. 

She  has  a granddaughter,  Ella  Martin,  now  living,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Anthony  C^min^etti,  a member  of  Congress  from  Jackson,  Cal. 
In  1809  Dr.  Holland  and  his  family  emigrated  to  Wilson  county, 
Tenn.,  and  settled  near  Lebanon.  Robert,  the  son,  was  born  in 
Halifax  county,  Ya.,  June  11,  1801,  graduated  in  medicine  at 
Transylvania  University  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  about  1822.  He  was 
married  three  times,  but  had  no  children  living  to  maturity,  except 
by  his  second  wife.  Her  name  was  Elizabeth  Lewis  Turner.  This 
marriage  occurred  in  1843,  at  Lexington,  Ky.  Dr.  Robert  Chap- 
pell Holland  practiced  his  profession  for  some  years  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  but  removed  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  died  there  April  24, 
1880,  at  the  age  of  79.  There  were  born  of  his  second  marriage 
three  sons,  whose  births  were  in  the  order  named  : 

I.  Robert  Afton,  b.  June  1,  1844.  Became  a minister 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  was,  at  the  age  of 
18,  chaplain  of  John  Morgan’s  Confederate  cavalry. 
In  1873  was  ordained  a priest  in  the  Episcopal 


*MiBS  Helen  Chappell  died  November  16,  1894,  aged  78. 


120 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Church,  and  has  attained  great  prominence.  He  is 
now  the  well  known  Rector  of  St.  George’s  church 
in  St.  Louis.  He  m.  Theodosia  Healy  Everett  in 
1864.  Issue : Mary,  Robert,  Theodosia,  Thomas, 
James  and  Enid.  His  wife  died  December,  1893. 

II.  Henry  L.,  b.  September  10,  1847,  m.  Annie  M.  Ware. 
No  issue.  Is  a merchant  in  Chicago. 

III.  James  W.,  b.  April  24,  1849.  Is  a distinguished 
physician  and  now  a professor  and  dean  of  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  Married  Mary  B. 
Rupert.  Issue  : Rupert,  Lucy  and  Leicester.  They 
have  lived  in  Philadelphia  for  many  years. 

5.  Ursula  m.  Joel  Tucker  October  17,  1800.  They  had 
but  one  child — Patsy.  She  is  referred  to  in  the  old  letter  men- 
tioned elsewhere,  written  in  1828,  by  Wm.  Dickie,  in  which  it  is 
said,  “Patsy  Tucker  is  living  with  her  grandfather  Chappell.” 

6.  Prudence  married  Robert  Tucker  on  January  12,  1821. 
They  had  no  children. 

7.  Martha,  the  youngest  child,  married  William  Dickie,  the 
oldest  son  of  John  Dickie,  Jr.,  who  emigrated  to  South  Carolina, 
and  who  was,  therefore,  the  grandson  of  John  Dickie,  Sr.,  and  Ailsie, 
his  wife.  (See  Dickie  genealogy.)  This  marriage  occurred  Novem- 
ber 22,  1816.  They  had  three  children,  all  daughters.  They  are 
referred  to  in  the  Dickie  history. 

The  family  of  Robert  Chappell  was  not  a prolific  one,  and 
unless  there  are  descendants  of  the  two  sons  of  Joel  Chappell,  who 
emigrated  to  Tennessee,  now  living,  the  name  “Chappell”  is  in 
this  branch  extinct.  Capt.  Robert  Chappell  died  in  July,  1829, 
at  the  age  of  83.  He  left  an  estate  and  a will,  and  in  his  will  the 
names  of  his  children  and  some  of  his  grandchildren  are  men- 
tioned. It  was  written  February  7,  1826,  but  was  not  probated 
until  July,  1829. 

I have  referred  in  the  Dickie  history  (Chapter  IV.)  to  an  old 
letter  (now  in  my  possession)  written  by  Wm.  Dickie  to  Jordan 
Compton,  and  dated  November  10,  1828,  from  which  a good  deal 
of  valuable  information  has  been  obtained  in  relation  to  the  family 
in  Halifax  county  at  that  time.  In  this  letter  the  writer  refers  to 
his  father-in-law,  Capt.  Robin  Chappell,  and  says  : “Father  Chappell 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIKDRED  FAMILIES. 


121 


has  a cancer  on  his  hand  ; he  has  had  it  cut  out,  hut  it  is  no 
better,  and  I expect  it  will  kill  him.  I fear  it  is  in  the  blood.” 
The  cancer  referred  to  did  kill  the  old  gentleman  within  a year, 
but  it  was  not  “in  the  blood,”  for  there  has  been  no  case  of  cancer 
in  the  family  from  that  day  to  this,  that  I have  ever  heard  of. 
Certainly  it  was  not  “in  the  blood.” 

I would  be  glad  to  publish  this  old  letter  entire,  as  a 
curiosity,  did  the  scope  of  this  little  book  permit  ; but  as  it 
is  I fear  my  readers  will  become  weary  of  constant  repetition  of 
the  names  and  dates  of  the  Chappell  family. 

JAMES  CHAPPELL,  SON  OF  JOHN  AND  PRUDENCE 
CHAPPELL-THE  TEXAS  BRANCH. 

If  I were  called  on  to  select  from  the  many  names  mentioned 
in  this  history  the  one  representing  the  most  courageous  and  hardy 
pioneer,  1 would  select  that  of  James  Chappell,  for  there  is  a 
tinge  of  daring  romance  in  his  eventful  life  that  we  find  in  no 
other  of  the  earlier  pioneers  of  the  family. 

James  was  the  third  son  of  John  and  Prudence  Chappell  of 
Amelia  county,  Virginia,  the  history  of  whose  lives  has  been 
given  in  the  fourth  chapter,  and  was  born  in  that  county  about 
1754.  His  name  is  mentioned  in  his  fathers  will,  a part  of  which 
is  transcribed  in  that  chapter.  Several  of  the  younger  generation 
of  Chappells,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  entered  the- 
army  in  Virginia,  but  from  the  fact  that  the  male  names  of  the 
family  at  that  time  were  limited  to  about  a half  dozen,  among 
which  were  James  and  John,  and  that  there  were  several  persons 
bearing  these  names,  it  is  now  almost  impossible  to  distinguish 
them,  and  to  ascertain  which  of  them  were  in  the  army.  It  is  not 
improbable  that  there  was  more  than  one  of  the  same  name  who 
bore  arms  in  that  war.  This  difficulty  of  distinguishing  those 
of  the  same  name,  and  of  the  same  generation,  has  been  fre- 
quently referred  to. 

James  Chappell,  with  his  brothers,  Robert,  John  and  Will- 
iam, his  relatives — the  Crawleys — and  his  cousin,  another  James 
Chappell,  removed  from  Amelia  to  Halifax  county,  about  the  close 
of  the  Revolution.  In  searching  the  records  of  Halifax  countv 

9— 


122 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


his  name  was  found  several  times.  In  1780  he  bought  a tract  of 
land  on  the  south  side  of  Dan  river,  adjoining  the  farms  of  his 
brothers,  and  there  established  a home.*  On  March  12,  1781,  he 
and  his  brother  William  witnessed  a deed  made  to  their  brother 
John  Chappell,  and  on  July  1,  1785,  he  and  Robert  witnessed  a 
deed  made  by  John  to  Charles  Olds.  On  June  22,  1781,  he  mar- 
ried Martha,  daughter  of  Richard  Wooding. f They  continued  to 
reside  on  their  farm  in  that  county  until  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  when  they  joined  the  great  tide  of  emigration 
that  began  to  flow  from  Virginia  to  West  Tennessee,  and  removed 
there  and  located,  it  is  believed,  in  Maury  or  an  adjoining  county. 
Here  he  lived  until  about  1835  to  1840,  when,  with  the  restless  de- 
sire of  the  early  pioneer  for  more  “elbow  room,”  he  again  emigrated 
West,  continued  his  journey  to  the  Brazos  River,  and  located 
in  what  is  now  Washington  county  in  the  State  of  Texas,  but  what 
was  then  the  Republic  of  Texas,  and  the  ultima  thule  of  Amer- 
ican civilization.  He  there  laid  off  and  founded  the  town  of 
Chappell  Hill,  named  for  him,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
he  passed  over  to  join  that  great  silent  majority,  whose  realm  is 
bounded  by  the  sides  of  the  grave. J 

It  is  diflicult  now  to  conceive  of  a more  perilous  undertaking 
than  the  journey  made  by  James  Chappell  at  that  early  day,  from 
Tennessee  to  Texas  ; for  the  latter  country  was  not  a half  century 
-ago  what  it  is  now.  It  was  then  a vast  wilderness,  inhabited 
alone  by  wild  beasts,  and  the  wilder  and  more  dangerous  savage. 
Beyond  the  Mississippi,  and  for  a greater  part  of  the  distance, 
there  was  no  human  habitation,  and  no  sound  was  heard  by  day 
save  the  bellowing  of  the  buffalo,  nor  by  night  save  the  howling  of 
the  coyote.  Tradition  says  this  journey  was  not  a pleasure  trip, 


* Ills  cousin,  James  Chappell,  son  of  James  of  Amelia,  who  married  Lucy  Woodson, 
located  on  Banister  river,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
t This  marriage  license  is  still  on  file  in  the  clerk’s  office  in  Halifax  county,  Virginia. 

$ In  1820,  Moses  Austin,  by  permission  of  the  Mexican  government,  established  an 
American  colony  on  the  Brazos  river,  where  Washington  and  Austin  counties  are 
now  located.  He  died  in  1823,  and  the  command  of  the  colony  fell  to  his  son,  Colonel 
Stephen  F.  Austin.  Constant  disturbances  between  the  colonists  and  the  Mexicans 
resulted  in  the  Revolution  of  1836,  which  will  ever  remain  memorable  in  history,  from 
the  massacre  of  the  Americans  at  Goliad  and  the  Alamo.  San  Jacinto  soon  followed, 
and  with  this  great  victory  achieved  by  General  Sam  Houston,  came  the  independence 
of  the  Republic  in  1837,  followed  in  1845  by  the  admission  of  the  State  of  Texas  into 
the  union.  It  was  to  this  colony  on  the  Brazos,  that  James  Chappell,  his  sons  and 
grandsons  emigrated.  It  may  be  worth  mentioning  that  General  Mirabeau 
B.  Lamar  was  the  second  president  of  the  republic,  and  it  was  his  sister— Loretto— 
who  married  Absalom  H.  Chappell  of  the  Georgia  branch  in  1842. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


123 


but  that  the  emigrants  were  in  constant  dread  of  the  Indians,  and 
were  frequently  attacked  by  them.  In  these  engagements  it  is 
also  said  that  the  wife  of  James  Chappell,  although  then  an  old 
woman,  displayed  unusual  nerve  and  personal  courage,  and  made 
a “full  hand”  in  fighting  the  redskins — she  loaded  the  guns  while 
her  husband  and  sons  did  the  shooting. 

The  names  of  but  two  of  the  children  of  James  and  Martha 
Chappell  are  known.  There  were  probably  others,  but  if  so, 
their  names  have  been  lost.  The  two  referred  to  were  both  sons, 
and  were  named  Robert  Wooding  and  Humphrey.  Robert  Wood- 
ing, or  “Wooding  Chappell,”  as  he  was  called,  who  was  the  elder, 
attained  considerable  prominence  after  his  removal  to  Texas,  and 
is  yet  remembered  by  the  older  members  of  the  family.  The 
family  Bible  that  once  belonged  to  him  has  been  preserved,  and 
from  it  the  following  record  of  his  family  has  been  obtained  : 
“Robert  Wooding  Chappell  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  Virginia, 
May  14,  1782,  and  married  Mary  (whose  surname  is  unknown),  in 
1803.  She  was  born  Oct.  25,  1784.”  There  were  born  of  this 
union  the  following  children,  on  the  dates  given  : Charlotte,  Nov. 
8,  1804;  John  G.,  Feb.  17,  1806;  Elizabeth,  July  17,  1807; 
William,  August  27,  1808  ; Mary,  Dec.  2,  1810  ; Robert,  June  6, 
1812  ; James,  Nov.  10,  1813  ; Nimrod,  August  29,  1815,  and 
George,  Dec.  12,  1816.  These  are  all  long  since  dead,  and  of  their 
generation  there  remains  but  one — Harriet — the  widow  of  William, 
now  a very  old  lady.  I have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  infor- 
mation of  the  descendants  of  Wooding  Chappell,  except  those  of 
his  son,  John  G.  He  married  and  had  children,  among  whom  was 
a son,  named  for  his  grandfather,  Robert  Wooding.  Robert  Wood- 
ing, Jr.,  married,  and  his  widow  now  lives  near  Brenham,  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Texas.  They  had  two  sons,  one  of  whom  is  John 
H.  Chappell,  a young  member  of  the  bar  of  Brenham. 

Humphrey  Chappell,  the  son  of  James  Chappell,  was  younger 
than  his  brother  Wooding.  An  account  of  his  marriage  was 
found  in  the  Halifax  records.  On  July  3,  1823,  he  married  Lucy 
Irby.  He  did  not  emigrate  to  Texas  with  his  father,  but  it  is  said 
removed  to  Arkansas,  and  settled  in  that  state.  About  1835  he 
returned  to  Tennessee  on  a visit  to  his  father,  and  cousins,  the 
sons  of  William  Chappell  of  the  Tennessee  branch,  who  had 


124 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Maury  county.  It  seems  that  he  ex- 
tended this  visit  to  Amelia  county,  Va.,  for  in  the  old  manuscript 
of  James  Chappell,  so  often  referred  to,  he  mentions  a visit  about 
this  time  from  Humphrey  Chappell,  son  of  James,  who  was  the 
son  of  John  and  Prudence  of  Amelia.  Humphrey  seems  not  to 
have  returned  to  Arkansas  to  live,  for  in  1838  he  removed  to 
Muhlenburgh  county,  Ky.,  and  soon  thereafter  married  a Miss 
January,  who  became  his  second  wife.  He  is,  doubtless,  long 
since  dead,  and  if  he  left  any  descendants  they  are  probably  in 
that  part  of  Kentucky. 

I regret  that  the  account  I have  given  of  the  Texas  branch  of 
the  family  is  not  more  complete,  but  after  a faithful  effort,  and 
much  correspondence,  I have  been  able  to  obtain  no  facts  in 
addition  to  those  given.  The  “grim  reaper”  has  played  sad 
havoc  with  this  branch  of  the  Chappell  family,  and  of  all  the 
descendants  of  James  Chappell,  if  there  be  any  left,  excepting 
John  H.  and  his  brother,  their  names  and  residences  are 
unknown.*  The  data  from  which  this  sketch  has  been  compiled 
was  obtained  from  W.  B.  Chappell,  of  Flatwoods,  Tenn. ; John  H. 
Chappell,  Brenham,  Texas,  the  manuscript  of  James  Chappell,  and 
the  records  of  Halifax  county,  Va. 

SAMUEL,  YOUNGEST  SON  OF  JOHN  AND  PRUDENCE 
CHAPPELL,  OF  AMELIA  COUNTY,  VA. 

Samuel,  the  youngest  son  of  his  parents,  was  born  in  Amelia 
county,  Va.,  in  1760,  and  was  therefore  15  years  old  when  his 
father  died,  in  April,  1775.  In  his  father’s  will  a special  legacy 
was  bequeathed  to  be  used  for  his  education,  and  maintenance 
until  he  became  of  age.  He  did  not  leave  Amelia  county  with  his 
brothers  when  they  removed  to  Halifax,  but  on  May  25,  1786,  we 
find  in  the  records  of  Amelia  that  he  married  Martha  Perkinson. 
Only  one  other  record  was  found  referring  to  him.  On  March  14, 
1787,  he  signed,  as  surety,  the  marriage  bond  of  one  Hezekiah 
Tucker,  who  married  Amy  Tucker. 

I was  for  some  time,  in  tracing  the  history  of  Samuel  Chap- 
pell, unable  to  ascertain  what  became  of  him.  The  Amelia  records 

^ There  is  living  in  Mineola,  Texas,  a merchant,  named  J.  G.  Chappell,  who  is 
probably  a descendant  of  James  Chappell. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHEPv  KIKDEED  FAMILIES. 


125 


gave  no  further  clue  : his  name  was  not  found  in  the  Halifax 
records,  and  I became  satisfied  that  he  never  removed  to  that 
county.  It  was  not  until  I received  the  manuscript  containing  the 
early  traditions  of  the  family,  from  Virginia,  that  the  question 
was  solved.  From  this  manuscript,  so  invaluable  to  us,  the  fol- 
lowing information  has  been  obtained  : “Samuel  married  and  died 
early  in  life,  in  this  county  (Amelia).  His  daughter  married  a 
gentleman  named  ‘Backus,’  who,  at  one  time,  kept  the  Amelia 
Springs,*  and  afterwards  removed  to  the  western  part  of  the  state 
and  kept  a house  of  entertainment  there.”  This  is  absolutely  all 
we  know  of  Samuel  Chappell.  The  name  “Backus”  is  suggestive 
— it  was  an  appropriate  name  for  a tavern-keeper. 

PRUDENCE  CHAPPELL. 

By  referring  to  the  will  of  John  Chappell,  of  Amelia  (Chapter 
IV),  it  will  be  observed  that  he  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 
the  name  of  the  latter  was  Prudence.  She  was  doubtless  named 
for  her  mother — a name  than  which  thei’e  is  none  more  beautiful. 
This  name  has  been  a favorite  one  in  our  family,  and  in  some  of 
the  branches  has  been  transmitted  to  the  present  generation.  We 
know  nothing  of  her  history  or  what  became  of  her,  either  from 
tradition  or  the  records,  for  after  a diligent  search  her  name  was 
not  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  Amelia  county.  She  either  died 
before  marriage,  or,  if  married,  the  bond  and  license  have  been 
lost.  Her  history  will  never  be  known  to  her  kindred. 

WILLIAM  CHAPPELL,  THE  TENNESSEE  BRANCH. 

“William  Chappell,  son  of  John  and  Prudence  Chappell,  was 
born  in  Amelia  county,  Va.,  on  the  15th  day  of  May,  1758.”  It 
wms  this  record,  found  accidentally  in  an  old  family  Bible,  that 
had  once  belonged  to  Mrs.  Xancy  H.  Reynolds,  the  former  widow 
of  Alexander  Chappell,  that  first  suggested  the  compilation  of  this 
family  history. 

The  old  Bible  was  a small  volume,  yellow  with  age,  and  torn 
from  neglect  and  rough  usage,  for  it  had  for  years  been  thrown 


* A summer  resort  yet  in  Amelia  county,  Va. 


126 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


aside,  after  its  owner’s  death,  with  other  old  books,  as  worthless. 
Doubtless  the  good  Christian  woman,  to  whom  it  had  belonged, 
knew  its  history  and  its  value,  for  it  had  been  in  the  family  for 
more  than  a hundred  years,  and  had  once  belonged  to  her  hus- 
band’s father — William  Chappell — the  progenitor  of  the  Tennessee 
branch.  From  the  pages  of  this  little  volume  there  was  emitted  a 
ray  of  light  that  radiated  towards  the  East,  and,  like  a halo,  rested 
over  the  dome  of  the  old  and  dilapidated  court  house  of  Amelia 
county,  Va.  The  reflection  from  this  ray  shown  on  the  archives 
stored  away  in  the  old  building  for  generations,  and  covered  with 
the  dust  of  a century  and  a half,  and  bid  us  search  there  for  more 
light;  for  on  these  shelves  were  stored  the  wills,  the  marriage 
licenses,  the  deeds  and  conveyances,  and  the  settlements  of  the 
estates  of  our  ancestors,  whose  names  and  histories  had  been  lost 
to  their  posterity. 

William  was  next  to  the  youngest  son  of  his  parents,  and  wa& 
but  a few  days  of  17  years  old  when  his  father  died,  in  Amelia 
county,  in  April,  1775,  just  a year  before  the  beginning  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Provision  was  made  in  his  father’s  will 
for  the  maintenance  and  education  of  himself  and  his  younger 
brother,  Samuel.  He  accompanied  his  brothers,  Robert,  John 
and  James,  and  other  relatives,  when  they  removed  to  Halifax 
county  about  1780,  and  the  first  account  we  find  of  him  there  w^as 
his  marriage.  The  records  show  that  on  Thursday,  November  6, 
1783,  he  married  the  “Scotch  lass,”  Elizabeth  Dickie,  daughter  of 
John  and  Ailsie  Dickie.  He  soon  bought  a tract  of  land  and 
established  a home  on  the  south  side  of  Dan  river,  in  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  the  county,  adjoining  the  plantations  of  his 
brothers,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  May  18,  1799,  at  the  early  age  of  41  years. 

The  name  of  William  Chappell  was  frequently  found  in  the 
records  of  Halifax  county,  for  he  seems  to  have  been  an  energetic, 
prosperous  and  highly  esteemed  citizen,  and  had  accumulated  a 
good  estate.  He  left  a will  dated  November  1,  1798,  which  was 
probated  June  24,  1799,  and  in  this  will  his  children  are  named  as 
follows:  David  Crawley,  Sarah,  William,  Dickie,  John  Watkins, 
Elizabeth  and  Alexander.  The  births  of  these  were  in  the  order 
named,  and  they  were  all  young  at  the  time  of  their  father’s 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIKDRED  FAMILIES.  127 

death.  David  Crawley  and  John  Watkins  died  in  Virginia,  before 
arriving  at  maturity  ; the  others  all  lived  to  be  married,  and  in 
after  years  emigrated  to  Tennessee. 

The  witnesses  to  this  wTll  were  William  Dickie,  Sr.,  (a 
brother-in-law)  and  Xancy  Chappell,  a niece.*  His  brothers, 
John  and  Robert,  and  brother-in-law,  Edwdn  Garlington,  were 
appointed  in  the  wdll  his  executors,  and  also  guardians  of  his- 
children.  The  inventory  of  the  estate,  exclusive  of  land  and 
negroes,  amounted  to  £898  4s  7d,  or  $4,347.50  in  the  present  cur- 
rency. On  February  22,  1802,  Elizabeth  Chappell,  his  widow, 
receipted  to  the  executors  for  her  portion  of  the  estate.  The  wit- 
nesses were  William  Dickie,  Sr.,  David  Crawley  Chappell  and 
Conway  and  William  Garlington — the  two  latter  were  the  sons  of 
Edwin  Garlington,!  and  hence  her  nephews. 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  is  a double  relationship  between 
the  descendants  of  John  and  William  Chappell,  they  having  mar- 
ried sisters,  who  were  the  daughters  of  John  Dickie.  This  close 
relationship  has,  perhaps,  led  to  more  than  the  usual  feeling  of 
friendship  and  aifection  between  the  families  ; an  affection  which 
has  continued  for  a century,  and  which  still  continues  unimpaired 
and  unbroken  to  this  day.  My  grandfather  (John  Chappell)  was 
executor  of  the  estate  of  his  brother  and  guardian  of  his  chil- 
dren. My  father  (John  Chappell  of  Missouri)  was  the  guardian 
of  Alexander  I.  Chappell,  a grandson  of  William,  Sr.  I was  the 
administrator  of  the  estate  of  AVilliam  S.  Chappell,  another 
grandson,  and  became,  in  the  next  generation,  the  guardian  of 
Chappell  Rickey,  the  grandson  of  William  S.  Chappell,  and  the 
great-great-grandson  of  William  Chappell,  Sr.  This  confidence,, 
which  has  been  reposed  in  succeeding  generations,  has  never  been 
betrayed,  and  has  served  to  cement  still  closer  the  ties  of  kinship. 

Elizabeth  Chappell,  the  widow  of  William,  some  years  after 
his  death,  married  Thomas  Hull  Crawley,  who  was  a widower, 
and  probably  a grandson  of  Sarah  Crawley,  and  therefore  related 
to  the  Chappells.  But  one  child  was  born  of  this  marriage,  a son 
named  Thomas,  who  died  quite  young.  I do  not  know  the  date 
of  this  marriage  or  the  time  of  Thomas  H.  Crawley's  death,  but  for 


^Daughter  of  Robert  Chappell. 

+ See  Garlington  and  Dickie  histories  Chapters  X.  and  IV. 


128 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


some  years  after  my  father’s  first  marriage  (1814)  they  were  his 
nearest  neighbors  and  most  intimate  friends,  and  are  yet  remem- 
bered by  my  sister,  Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Lenoir.  They  lived  near  Black 
Walnut,  and  I spent  a night  in  the  old  home,  which  was  an  elegant 
house  in  its  day,  and  is  yet  in  a fair  state  of  preservation.  It  is 
now  occupied  and  owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Pointer,  a descendant 
of  the  Chappells,  and  is  called  “Residence.” 

In  1832,  as  has  been  stated  on  a previous  page,  Elizabeth 
Crawley,  called  by  her  relatives  “Aunt  Betsy  Crawley,”  removed 
with  her  youngest  son,  Alexander  Chappell,  to  Maury  county, 
Tenn.,  whence  all  of  her  children  had  preceded  her.  She  died  at 
the  home  of  her  son  William,  on  June  3,  1844,  having  lived  to  be 
almost  an  octogenarian.  She  is  remembered  by  those  yet  living, 
and  from  the  description  we  have  of  her,  she  must  have  been  a 
woman  of  strong  character,  great  energy,  and  excellent  good  sense. 
I think  in  her  personal  appearance  she  must  have  differed  from 
her  sister,  Susannah  Garlington,  for  she  was  rather  above  me- 
dium height,  and  of  spare  form  ; wTereas,  in  the  description 
handed  down  to  us,  Susannah  Garlington,  nee  Dickie,  is  described 
as  having  been  a decided  blonde,  “and  large  in  person.” 

1720 — 1895,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  years,  and  yet  the 
lives  of  three  persons — John  Chappell  of  Amelia,  Elizabeth 
(Chappell)  Crawley  (his  daughter-in-law)  and  her  grandson,  Will- 
iam B.  Chappell  of  Tennessee,  now  living  at  the  age  of  70 — span 
this  long  period.  W.  B.  Chappell  distinctly  remembers  his 
grandmother  ; she  may  have  known  her  husband’s  father.  What 
a remarkable  instance  of  longevity  ! 

SARAH  CHAPPELL. 

Sarah  w^as  the  oldest  child  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Chap- 
pell, and  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  Va.,  on  March  18,  1786. 
She  married  Nathaniel  Strange,  as  shown  by  the  marriage  license, 
on  April  7,  1803,  in  the  old  county.  In  1832  they  emigrated  from 
Virginia  to  Maury  county,  Tenn.,  wdth  her  brother,  Alexander 
Chappell,  and  there  she  lived  out  her  days.  There  were  born  of 
this  marriage  seven  children,  five  daughters  and  two  sons  ; their 
names  were,  Elizabeth,  Martha,  Mary,  Rebecca  Frances,  Thomas 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


129 


and  James.  They  all  married  except  Elizabeth,  and  all  are  now 
dead  except  James,  who  was  the  youngest.  He  now  lives  in 
Maury  county  at  the  age  of  68  years.  James  married  a Miss 
Bunch,  and  has  three  children  living,  all  girls.  I have  not  been 
able  to  obtain  their  names,  nor,  in  fact,  any  further  information 
of  the  descendants  of  Sarah  Strange.  She  died  in  1859,  aged  73 
years. 


WILLIAM  CHAPPELL,  JR. 

William  was  the  oldest  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Chap- 
pell, and  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  Ya.,  July  29,  1788.  On 
June  25,  1812,  he  married  Sarah  L.  Palmer,  in  Halifax  county, 
Ya.,  who  was  a sister  of  Isaac  Palmer,  referred  to  in  the  Wade 
history.  She  was  born  May  9,  1798,  and  died  Oct.  17,  1852.  In 
1817  AYilliam  Chappell  emigrated  to  Tennessee,  first  located  in 
Sumner  county,  from  there  removed  to  Wilson  county,  and  in 
1828  settled  in  Maury  county,  where  he  became  a prosperous  cot- 
ton planter  and  lived  out  his  days.  Physically,  he  was  of  medium 
stature,  and  never  weighed  over  145  pounds,  but  possessed  great 
energy  and  industry,  and  was  a man  of  the  most  exemplary  habits 
and  the  strictest  integrity.  He  was  a zealous  Christian  and  a de- 
voted churchman — what  was  called  in  old  times  a ‘‘shouting: 
Methodist.”  He  lived  to  be  85  years  old,  and  passed  away  Nov. 
21,  1873. 

There  were  born  to  William  and  Sarah  Chappell  seven  chil- 
dren who  lived  to  maturity,  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Their 
names  were  as  follows  : Parthena,  Thomas  Dickie,  Anna  O., 

William  B.,  Alexander,  Sarah  and  Newton. 

1.  Parthena,  b.  in  Yirginia,  July  8,  1815,  m.  Charles  M. 
Irvine  (1831).  Issue  : 

I.  Ann,  m.  Thomas  Yestal.  Issue  : One  daughter. 

II.  Laura,  m.  Wisner.  Issue  : Two. 

III.  Fanny,  m.  McMerivous.  No  issue. 

lY.  George,  m.  Sarah  A.  Sedberry. 

Y.  John,  unm. 

YI.  Charles,  m.  Miss  Dortch. 

YII.  William,  m.  Miss  AYarren. 


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A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


VIII.  James,  emigrated  to  Texas. 

2.  Thomas  Dickie,  m.  Mary  A.  Lockridge  (1840).  Issue  : 

I.  Dickie,  m.  unknown.  Emigrated  to  Arkansas. 

II.  Susan,  m.  John  C.  Whitaker.  Issue  : Six. 

III.  Fanny,  m.  Jas.  P.  Hall.  Issue  : Two  daughters. 

IV.  Mary,  m.  H.  H.  Culp.  Issue  : Seven. 

V.  Nimrod,  m.  Sarah  Culp.  Removed  to  Arkansas. 

VI.  Ella,  m.  R.  M.  McLemon.  Issue  : Five. 

VII.  Robert,  m.  Martha  Thomasson.  Issue  : Five. 

3.  Anna  O.,  m.  Jno.  J.  Dobbin  (1841).  Issue  : 

I.  Josephine,  m.  Dr.  Davidson. 

II.  William  A.  is  a physician  in  Memphis,  Tenn. 

III.  James  Pitts,  unm.,  is  a merchant  in  New  Orleans. 

IV.  Ann,  m.  Wm.  Howard,  Hazlehurst,  Miss. 

V.  Laura,  m.  Campbell. 

VI.  Blake,  unm.,  merchant.  New  Orleans. 

4.  William  B.,  b.  May  22,  1828,  resides  at  Flatwoods, 
Tenn.,  m.  (2) — (1)  Elizabeth  Whitaker,  who  died  in  1868.  Issue  : 

I.  Edwin  B.,  m.  Jennie  Headlee.  Issue  ; Four. 

II.  Sarah  Palmer,  m.  Knox  Gillham.  Issue  : Five. 

III.  William  W.,  m.  Belle  Duncan.  Issue  : Two. 

IV.  Anna  M.,  m.  H.  A.  Grimes.  Issue  : Four. 

All  of  the  above  children  of  William  B.  Chappell  live  in 
Maury  county,  Tenn.,  except  Edwin  B.,  who  is  a distinguished 
minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  is  now  stationed  in  St. 
Louis. 

William  B.  Chappell  married  a second  time  in  1869.  The 
name  of  his  second  wife  was  Mary  Z.  Gillham,  and  there  have 
been  born  to  them  the  following  children,  now  living,  all  of  whom 
are  unmarried  ; Charles  P.,  Ewin  S.,  Julia  B.,  Ashley  C.  and 
Clovis  G. 

The  father  of  this  family  is  a man  of  far  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  and  possesses  a well  educated  mind  and  a remarkable 
memory — a memory  in  which  is  stored  more  of  the  traditions  of 
the  early  Chappells  than  in  that  of  any  other  member  of  the  family 
now  living.  He  has  furnished  me  much  valuable  data,  not  only  of 
the  Tennessee  branch,  but  of  others.  He  also  possesses,  in  a 
marked  degree,  the  hereditary  talent  of  the  family  that  I have 


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referred  to  elsewhere — that  of  penmanship — and  is  by  far  the  best 
penman  I have  ever  known  of  his  age.  He  is  a worthy  scion  of 
an  honored  ancestry,  and  is  a man  of  great  energy,  strict  integrity 
and  is  a consistent  Christian  gentleman. 

5.  Alexander,  b.  January  23,  1834,  m.  (2) — (1)  Maggie  Bul- 
lock ; only  issue  living,  Mrs.  Harris,  who  has  three  daughters. 
She  is  a widow  ; (2)  Belle  Dooley.  Issue  : 

I.  Florence  m.  Charles  Haycraft.  Issue:  Two  daughters. 

Live  in  Florida. 

II.  Edward  C.,  d.  in  California  (1893). 

III.  Kate  D.,  m.  Fleming.  Issue  : 2. 

IV.  Jennie,  d.  1894. 

V.  Clifford,  unm. 

6.  Sarah  P.,  b.  November  16,  1835,  m.  (2) — (1)  Dr.  W.  B. 
Barfield  ; no  living  issue  ; (2)  Rev.  J.  H.  Raulhac,  a prominent 
and  distinguished  minister  of  the  Christian  church.  They  live  in 
Union  City,  Tenn. 

7.  Newton,  b.  July  31,  1841,  m.  (2) — (1)  Mary  D.  Whitaker. 
Issue  : five  children  ; (2)  Laura  Whitaker,  in  1884.  Removed  to 
Texas,  where  he  still  lives.  Nothing  further  known. 

The  descendants  of  William  Chappell,  Jr.,  reside  mostly  in 
Maury  and  adjoining  counties  in  Tennessee.  As  will  be  seen, 
however,  many  have  removed  to  other  parts  of  the  state,  and  some 
have  emigrated  to  the  States  of  Texas  and  Arkansas. 

DICKIE  CHAPPELL. 

The  “three  Scotch  Sisters,”  daughters  of  John  Dickie,  were 
certainly  proud  of  their  name,  as  they  no  doubt  had  a right  to  be^ 
and  were  determined  to  perpetuate  it  among  their  descendants. 
The  name  “Dickie”  is  to  be  found  in  every  branch  and  generation 
among  their  descendants,  and  is  to  this  day  a common  one  and  the 
favorite  of  all  other  names  in  the  Chappell  and  Garlington  fam- 
ilies. May  it  long  continue  to  be  so  honored. 

Dickie,  the  second  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Chappell, 
living  to  maturity,  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  Va.,  February  19, 
1790.  He  was  twice  married  ; first  to  Mary  Hobson,  whose  mother 
was  a Miss  Pate.  She  died  early  in  life,  leaving  one  son,  Henry 


132 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Pate  Chappell.  Dickie  Chappell,  after  a few  years,  married 
Susannah  Pate  Tinsley,  a daugliter  of  Nathaniel  Tinsley,  who 
was  a cousin  of  his  first  wife,  for  Hobson  and  Tinsley  each  mar- 
ried sisters  of  Mathew  Pate.  By  this  marriage  six  children  were 
born,  whose  names  were  as  follows  : Dickie  Tinsley,  Fanny, 

Louise,  Susannah  Dickie,  Jennie  and  Sarah. 

The  father  of  this  family  emigrated  to  Maury  county,  Tenn., 
about  1820,  and  settled  near  his  brother,  who  had  preceded  him. 
He  bought  a plantation  on  Duck  river,  provided  a fine  home  and 
became  a prosperous  and  very  wealthy  cotton  planter.  He  was  a 
large  man,  weighing  over  200  pounds,  had  dark  skin,  hair  and 
eyes,  and  was  energetic  and  industrious.  He  lived  on  his 
plantation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  February  26,  1856, 
at  the  age  of  66  years.  His  wife  died  in  the  same  year,  on 
December  6. 

1.  Dickie  Tinsley  was  the  only  son  of  his  parents,  and  w'as 
born  February  12,  1836.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Cartwright  on 
February  19,  1856.  She  was  b.  February  6,  1836,  and  died  in 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  December  9,  1893.  Issue; 

I.  Susannah  T.,  b.  June  24,  1857,  m.  Rev.  A.  R.  Farris. 

Issue  : Five  children. 

II.  Ellen  E.,  b.  February  13,  1860,  m.  C.  A.  Shepherd. 

Issue  : Three  children. 

III.  Albert  Dickie,  b.  January  14,  1862,  m.  Sophia  Reed. 

Issue  : Two  children. 

IV.  Nettie  P.,  b.  December  29,  1864,  m.  E.  H.  Gill. 

Issue  : One  son. 

Dickie  T.  Chappell  is  a large  man,  of  florid  complexion,  and 
is  of  a pleasant  and  jovial  disposition.  He  has  an  intelligent  and 
well  educated  mind,  and  is  a fine  specimen  of  the  old  time 
Southern  gentleman.  He  formally  lived  in  Columbia,  Tenn.,  but 
removed  to  Kansas  City  in  1886,  where  he  now  resides  with  his 
ehildren. 

2.  Fanny  Elizabeth  m.  Rev.  R.  G.  Irvine  in  October,  1845. 
Issue  now  living  : Ewing  Chappell,  Robert,  Thomas  and  Florence. 
The  three  first  named  live  in  Columbia,  Tenn.,  and  the  latter  in 
Denver,  Col.  None  are  married.  The  mother  died  February  4, 
1880,  and  the  father  May  19,  1893. 


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133 


3.  Louise  m.  Geo.  W.  Skinner  in  1814  and  died  in  1845.  Xo 
issue. 

4.  Susannah  Dickie,  b.  May  17,  1825,  m.  James  G.  Voor- 
heis  July  20,  1843,  and  d.  April  30,  1892.  Issue  now  living  ; 

I.  Garrett  Dickie,  ni.  Augusta  Strozzi.  Issue  : Six. 

II.  Saacie  Pate,  m.  J.  L.  Maxwell.  Issue  ; Two. 

III.  Milton  T.,  m.  Mary  L.  Brown.  Issue  ; Four. 

IV.  James  Chappell,  unm. 

V.  Joe  Lane,  m.  Loura  Zuccarello.  Issue  : Two. 

VI.  Susan  H.,  unm. 

All  of  the  above  live  in  and  near  Columbia,  Tenn.,  and  James 
C.  Voorheis  is  a prominent  member  of  the  legal  profession,  and 
lives  in  Columbia. 

5.  Jennie,  b.  October  27,  1827,  m.  W.  R.  Cason  October  19, 

1813,  and  d.  April  10,  1846.  Only  issue,  one  son,  J.  D.  Cason, 
who  m.  Sallie  M.  Xeeley.  Issue  : Five  children  ; William, 

Samuel,  Bertha,  Lizzie  and  Robert.  All  live  in  Maury  county, 
Tenn. 

6.  Sarah,  m.  (2) — (1)  B.  C.  Sedberry,  who  was  killed  in  the 
C.  S.  army.  Issue  : Five  daughters. 

I.  Susan,  m.  C.  T.  Riddle.  Issue  : Six. 

II.  Nannie,  m.  E.  D.  Neeley.  Issue  : Seven. 

III.  Lucy,  m.  (1)  J.  R.  Richie  (2)  Easley. 

IV.  Alice,  m.  S.  R.  Davis  (Creston,  Iowa).  Issue  : Four. 

V.  Bettie,  unm. 

(2)  Geo.  W.  Irvine.  Issue  : Charles  and  Anna.  All  of 
above  named  live  in  Waco,  Texas. 

ELIZABETH  CHAPPELL. 

Elizabeth  was  the  second  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Dickie)  Chappell,  and  was  born  August  18,  1793,  in  Halifax 
county.  She  married  twice.  Her  first  husband  was  Kennar 
Crawley,  son  of  Thomas  LIull  Crawley  by  his  first  wife.  His 
second  wife,  as  has  been  stated,  was  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of 
William  Chappell,  who  was  therefore  Elizabeth’s  mother.  In 
other  words  the  two  step-children  married.  Thomas  Hull  Crawley 
was  probably  a son  of  William  Crawley,  Jr.,  and  a grandson  of 


134 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Sarah  Crawley.  He  was  hence  the  first  cousin  of  William  Chappell, 
once  removed  ; and  Elizabeth  Chappell,  Jr.,  in  marrying  Kennar 
Crawley,  married  her  cousin,  twice  removed.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  any  of  my  readers  will  undertake  to  solve  this  relation- 
ship. It  is  a singular  matrimonial  amalgamation,  and  it  would 
require  an  expert  in  genealogical  lore  to  determine  exactly  what 
relationship  existed  between  them.  They  were  not  first  cousins, 
however. 

Kennar  Crawley  did  not  live  long  after  his  marriage,  and 
there  were  no  children  born  of  the  union.  In  1817  the  widow 
married  William  Gresham,  they  emigrated  to  Tennessee  and 
located  in  Maury  county.  There  were  three  children  born  to 
them.  These  were  all  sons,  and  were  named  John,  Joseph  Alex- 
ander and  Robert.  John  and  Robert  are  dead,  and  neither  ever 
married.  Joseph  Alexander,  called  “Sandy,”  is  a farmer,  and  an 
old  bachelor,  and  lives  near  Columbia,  Tenn.  The  name  Alex- 
ander is  a favorite  one  in  the  Tennessee  branch  ; it  was  originally 
a Greek  name,  and  means  a defender  ; it  has  long  been  also  a 
favorite  Scotch  name,  which  they  abreviate  into  “Sandy”  or 
“Sawnie.”  The  name  was  doubtless  bestowed  on  her  “clan”  by 
the  Scotch  mother. 

ALEXANDER  CHAPPELL. 

Alexander,  the  youngest  child  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Chappell,  was  born  in  Virginia,  November  27,  1797.  He 
married  Nancy  H.  Irvine,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Easley) 
Irvine,  in  Halifax  county,  Va.,  on  January  12,  1826,  and  in  1832, 
as  has  been  stated,  emigrated  to  Tennessee  and  located  in  Maury 
county,  where  he  died  on  October  3,  1833.  Shortly  after  his 
death  his  widow  and  children  removed  to  the  home  of  her  father 
in  Callaway  county,  Mo.,  to  which  state  he  had  previously  emi- 
grated with  the  Halifax  county  colony,  and  settled  not  far  from 
Jefferson  City. 

There  were  born  to  Alexander  and  Nancy  H.  Chappell  two 
sons  and  a daughter,  a sketch  of  each  of  whom  will  be  given  : 

1.  William  Samuel  was  b.  March  15,  1829,  m.  Abigail  Wag- 
goner, March  8,  1853,  d.  June  2,  1866.  Issue  : 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHEK  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


135 


I.  Sarah  Ida,  b.  Nov.  29,  1854,  m.  Joseph  Rickey 
Feb.  15,  1876.  Issue  : One  son,  Chappell  Rickey. 
Both  parents  died  soon  after  the  birth  of  their  child. 
Chappell  is  a very  handsome  and  promising  young 
man,  and  is  being  educated  at  the  Methodist  college 
at  Fayette,  Mo. 

II.  David  Alexander  (called  Sawnie),  was  b.  Sept.  3, 

1860,  m.  Lulu  Noland,  March  15,  1888.  Issue : 
Sarah,  William,  and  Nannie.  Sawnie  is  an  ener- 
getic and  prosperous  farmer,  and.  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  near  Jefferson  City,  which  has  been  in 
the  family  for  four  generations. 

III.  Nannie  Booker,  b.  August  16,  1858,  m.  Joseph 

Paullin.  Issue : One  child,  a daughter,  named 

Susan.  They  live  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  “Queeny,” 
as  she  is  called,  is  a fine  looking  young  woman.  She 
is  a devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a model  of  her 
sex. 

William  S.  Chappell  was  a tall,  spare,  dark-skinned,  black- 
eyed  and  black- haired  man.  He  possessed  great  energy,  industry 
and  good  judgment,  and  was  a prosperous  farmer  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Callaway  county.  Mo.,  when  called  away  on  June 
2,  1866,  at  the  early  age  of  37  years. 

2.  Sarah  Elizabeth  was  born  April  1,  1831,  in  Virginia.  She 
was  married  twice  ; first,  to  Samuel  Allen,  May  13,  1849.  Issue  ; 
One  daughter,  Mary  Adelaide,  who  married  Peter  Bailey  of  Ful- 
ton, Mo.  Issue  : One  son,  Celsus.  Her  second  marriage  was  to 
Major  John  B.  Adams,  on  May  25,  1852.  Issue  : One  son,  Thomas 
S.  Adams,  f This  was  another  intermarriage  between  the  Chappell 
and  Adams  families,  for  Major  John  B.  Adams  is  a son  of  my 
grandfather,  Philip  Adams.  Sarah  E.  Adams  is  a tall,  spare 
woman,  and  a brunette  ; she  is  63  years  old,  has  black  eyes  and 
black  hair,  scarcely  tinged  with  a silver  thread.  While  she  has 
been  a remarkably  energetic  and  industrious  housekeeper  all  her 
life,  and  in  her  early  life  had  the  care  of  many  servants,  she  is 
yet  well  preserved,  and  is  one  of  the  most  noble  and  lovable  of 
her  sex. 


t See  Adams  history.  Chapter  XI. 


136 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


3,  Alexander  Irvine  was  the  youngest  son  of  his  father,  and 
was  born  Feb.  5,  1834,  rn.  Lizzie  Cason,  and  died  Nov.  21,  1860 — 
a few  months  after  his  marriage.  I can  not  pass  this  name  with- 
out paying  a tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  friend  and  companion 
of  my  boyhood.  He  was  very  much  like  his  brother  in  personal 
appearance,  being  tall,  dark,  and  as  straight  as  an  Indian,  with  the 
blackest  of  hair  and  eyes.  He  was  an  unusually  handsome  young 
man,  and  with  a pleasing  appearance  and  alfable  manners  pos- 
sessed an  exceedingly  bright  and  well  cultivated  mind,  for  he  was 
educated  at  the  University  of  Missouri,  and  stood  always  at  the 
head  of  his  class.  He  was  a splendid  type  of  vigorous  young 
manhood,  and  had  he  lived  no  doubt  would  have  become  an  honor 
to  his  family  and  name. 

Poor  “Sawnie”!  I was  one  of  his  attendants  at  his  marriage, 
and  in  a few  weeks  one  of  his  pall- bearers.  We  laid  him  away  by 
the  side  of  his  ancestors  in  the  family  cemetery,  on  a high  eminence 
overlooking  the  broad  Missouri,  where  he  has  rested  in  peace  for 
more  than  the  third  of  a century.  I was  a boy  then,  my  hair  is 
now  silvered  with  gray,  but  I can  recall  in  memory,  as  if  it  were 
but  yesterday,  the  handsome  face,  the  flashing  black  eye  and  the 
quick  repartee  and  wit  of  my  young  kinsman. 

Among  all  the  branches,  none  have  done  more  to  maintain 
the  high  reputation  of  the  Chappell  family  for  industry,  intelli- 
gence and  good  citizenship,  than  the  Tennessee  branch.  Inherit- 
ing strong  constitutions  and  living  out-of-door  lives,  for  the  fam- 
ily have  almost  invariably  been  planters  and  farmers,  they  have 
been  a strong  and  robust  race  physically  and  mentally,  and  have 
been  noted  for  the  longevity  of  their  members,  especially  those  of 
the  older  generations.  The  five  children  of  William  Chappell, 
Sr.,  who  lived  to  maturity,  all  lived  to  a good  old  age  except 
Alexander,  and  the  average  age  of  the  five  was  65  years — an 
average  far  beyond  the  usual  computation  of  mortuary  tables,  and 
the  ordinary  expectancy  of  life. 


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137 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Joseph  Chappell,  the  Georgia  Branch — Robert  Chappell, 
THE  North  Carolina  Branch. 

It  will  be  remembered,  by  referring  to  Chapter  II,  that 
Thomas  Chappell,  wbo  was  of  the  fourth  generation,  lived  in 
Charles  City  county,  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  about  the  close  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  This  Thomas,  who  was  the  son  of  Samuel 
(1665),  had  three  sons  named  Thomas,  Samuel  and  Robert,  who 
removed  across  the  James  River  to  Prince  George  county  and 
located  there  about  1720.  Thomas  was  the  merchant  of  Peters- 
burg referred  to  in  the  manuscript  of  James  Chappell,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Jones,  who  afterwards  became  Sarah  Crawley.  Robert 
was  the  youngest,  and  is  also  referred  to  in  the  same  chapter,  and 
it  was  his  son  Robert,  born  in  1732,  who,  it  is  believed,  emigrated 
to  South  Carolina  before  the  Revolutionary  War,  about  1770,  and 
there  established  a South  Carolina  branch,  whose  history  may  be 
found  in  the  next  chapter.  Samuel,  the  other  brother,  became  a 
wealthy  land  owner,  married  Elizabeth — whose  surname  is  un- 
known— died  and  left  a will,  which  is  now  on  file  in  Surry  county, 
where  he  owned  land,  although  he  lived  and  died  in  Prince  George. 
He  died  about  1740  and  left  a family  of  children. 

In  1746  William  Crawley,  his  wife  Sarah,  her  children  by  her 
first  husband  (Thomas  Chappell),  some  of  the  Crawleys,  and  per- 
haps Other  relatives  and  friends,  removed  from  Prince  George  to 
Amelia  county.  The  latter  was  further  west  and  had  been 
recently  organized  (1734)*  from  Prince  George  and  was  a new  and 
fertile  country.  There  went  with  Sarah  Crawley  three  orphan 
Chappell  children — two  boys  and  a girl — who  were  the  children  of 
Samuel  Chappell,  and  were,  therefore,  the  cousins  of  Mrs.  Craw- 
ley’s children  by  her  first  husband.  The  names  of  the  boys  were 
John  and  Joseph  Chappell ; the  name  of  their  sister  is  unknown. 

* New  style.  Time  was  readjusted  in  1732. 

10- 


138 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


She  is  said  to  have  married  a Crawley  and  to  have  become  the 
mother  of  a family,  among  whom  were  three  sons  named 
Benjamin,  David  and  John.  (See  James  Chappell’s  manuscript.) 
I found  in  the  Amelia  records  the  appraisment  of  the  estate  of  one 
John  Crawley,  filed  April  13,  1791.  The  inventory  includes 
twenty-eight  negroes,  and  other  personal  property  amounting  in 
value  to  £1,123,  6s.  He  may  have  been  the  same  Crawley  who 
married  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Chappell.  Samuel  seems  to  have 
had  another  son  named  Benjamin,  who  will  be  again  referred  to. 

John  and  Joseph  Chappell  were  doubtless  quite  young, 
certainly  not  grown,  when  the  family  removed  to  Amelia,  for  the 
records  there  show  that  on  June  28,  1765,  John  married  Sarah,  the 
daughter  of  Moses  Hart.  He  died  shortly  after  his  marriage,  for 
letters  of  administration  were  taken  out  and  an  inventory  of  his 
estate  was  filed  on  November  23,  1766.  He  left  one  child,  a little 
girl,  named  Patsy,  who  lived  to  maturity,  and  on  March  22,  1781, 
married  Joshua  Thomas.  Her  grandfather,  Moses  Hart,  who  was 
also  her  guardian,  gave  his  consent  to  the  nuptials  and  signed  the 
marriage  license.* 

The  name  of  the  other  brother — Joseph — was  found  but  once 
in  the  Amelia  records.  On  September  15,  1758,  the  will  of  one 
Thomas  Booth  was  written  and  witnessed.  The  witnesses  were 
Robert  and  John  Chappell  (sons  of  Sarah  Crawley)  and  their 
cousin,  Joseph  Chappell,  all  young  men.  This  will  was  not 
probated  until  June  22,  1766 — eight  years  after  it  was  written. 
At  that  time  Robert  and  John  appeared  in  court  and  made  proof, 
but  the  name  ‘‘Joseph”  does  not  appear  on  that  occasion — he  was 
not  present.  My  conclusion  is  that  he  had,  in  the  meantime, 
removed  from  the  county  (between  1758  and  1766). 

For  a period  of  forty  years  there  is  a blank  in  the  history  of 
Joseph  Chappell.  The  name  does  not  appear  elsewhere  in  the 
records  of  Amelia  county,  nor  does  the  name  “Joseph”  appear 
previous  to  this  in  any  record  we  have  of  the  family,  nor  does  it 

^ This  account  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Amelia  county,  and  some  of  the  names, 
dates  and  facts  given  in  this  chapter,  have  also  been  recorded  in  Chapter  III,  refer- 
ring to  Sarah  Crawley  and  her  branch.  The  repetition  is  unavoidable,  and  is  war- 
ranted, for  the  reason  that  the  history  of  each  branch  is  the  same  until  they  diverge 
in  Amelia.  The  same  repetition,  and  apparent  tautology,  may  be  observed  elsewhere; 
it  is  not  an  oversight,  but  is  deemed  absolutely  essential,  that  the  facts  and  names— 
many  of  the  latter  being  identically  the  same— may  be  kept  distinctly  clear  and  sepa- 
rate in  the  mind  of  the  reader.  It  will  be  found  difficult,  with  the  closest  attention, 
to  keep  the  different  branches  separate. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


139 


ever  appear^  strange  as  it  may  seem,  in  any  branch  or  generation 
of  the  Chappells  down  to  the  present  day,  save  in  that  of  Georgia 
branch,  in  which,  as  will  be  observed,  it  is,  and  has  been,  the 
favorite  family  name,  transmitted  from  father  to  son  in  every  gen- 
eration. Frequently  in  these  pages  attention  has  been  called  to 
the  universal  and  marked  disposition  among  our  forefathers  to 
perpetuate  and  transmit  family  names.  Xo  one  can  read  the  his- 
tory of  their  lives  and  not  be  impressed  with  this  fact.  Their 
entire  catalogue  of  personal  names,  for  a century  and  a half  or 
longer,  seems  to  have  been  confined  to  a dozen,  and  these  have  been 
transmitted  from  one  generation  to  another.  The  name  of  our 
first  American  ancestor — John — seems  to  have  been,  of  all  others, 
the  favorite  one.  There  has  been  a John  Chappell  in  every 
branch  of  the  family,  and  in  every  generation  for  a period  of  260 
years,  until  the  name  itself  “is  legion.’' 

When  we  find,  therefore,  these  two  names,  -Joseph”  and 
“Benjamin,”  in  Amelia  county,  and  afterwards  in  the  Georgia 
branch,  and  no  where  else,  and  with  them  the  other  family  names, 
John,  James  and  Thomas,  there  is  no  escaping  the  conclusion  that 
the  Georgia  Chappells  are  the  descendants  of  Joseph  Chappell  of 
Amelia  county,  Va. 

I have  said  there  is  a blank  in  the  history  of  Joseph  Chappell 
for  a period  of  forty  years.  The  tradition  in  the  family,  which 
has  come  down  for  generations,  is  that  he  removed  to  Southamp- 
ton county,  Va.,  about  1760  to  1770  and  lived  and  died  in  that 
county.  Southampton  is  southeast  from  Amelia  and  borders  on 
the  Xorth  Carolina  line.  The  first  definite  and  reliable  informa- 
tion we  have  of  the  family  is  in  1797.  At  that  time  there  lived  in 
Hancock  county,  Ga.,  four  brothers  whose  names  were  Joseph, 
John,  Benjamin  and  Thomas  Chappell.  There  is  but  little  doubt 
that  these  were  the  sons  of  Joseph  Chappell,  of  Amelia  county, 
Va.,  who,  on  the  death  of  their  father,  probably  in  Southampton 
county,  had  emigrated  to  Georgia,  about  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  They  were  youug  men  at  that  time,  but  some  of  them 
had  married  in  Virginia  and  had  families. 

The  history  of  these  brothers,  as  far  as  I have  been  able  to 
obtain  it  by  correspondence,  will  be  found  in  this  chapter.  I 
regret  that  it  is  not  as  complete  as  it  might  have  been  had  I had 


140 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  advantage  of  a personal  acquaintance  with  some  of  the  present 
living  representatives  of  this  branch,  which  has  not  been  the  case. 

The  central  and  western  parts  of  the  State  of  Georgia  were,  at 
the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  inhabited  by  the  Cherokees, 
Creeks  and  other  warlike  tribes  of  Indians  ; and  it  was  not  till 
this  period  that  the  whites  began  to  settle  the  country.  The  first 
immigration  came  almost  exclusively  from  Virginia.  I have  in 
my  possession  a small  historical  volume,  referring  to  the  early  set- 
tlement of  this  part  of  Georgia,  written  many  years  ago,  by  Hon. 
Absalom  H.  Chappell,  a grandson  of  Joseph,  of  Virginia,  who 
will  be  referred  to  hereafter.  The  following  extract  from  this 
very  interesting  book  will  illustrate  the  dangers  to  which  these 
early  pioneers  were  exposed,  and,  as  it  is  historical,  may  not  be 
uninteresting.  He  writes  : 

“In  the  first  part  of  the  present  century  the  Oconee  river, 
three  miles  from  where  I was  then  born,  in  Hancock  county,  Ga., 
was  still  the  dividing  line  between  a powerful  and  ever  aggressive 
Anglo-American  civilization  on  its  eastern  side  and  the  im- 
memorial Indian  barbarism,  which  reigned  as  yet  unchecked,  all 
the  way  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  The  great  mass  of  the  im- 
migrants, the  elderly,  the  middle-aged,  the  fully  grown,  and  not  a 
few  of  the  very  young  were  Virginians  born.  ‘The  Virginians,’ 
as  the  Indians  called  them,  thronged  in  great  numbers,  undeterred, 
into  the  contested  territory  and  pitched  their  settlements  upon  soil 
which  they  were  liable,  at  any  moment,  to  have  to  defend  with 
their  lives.  They  lived,  of  course,  in  perpetual  peril  and  were 
compelled  at  all  times  to  go  armed  and  be  on  the  alert.  My 
grandfather  (his  mother’s  father),  a fresh  immigrant  from  Vir- 
ginia, did  not  like  this  mode  of  life  for  his  wife  and  children,  and 
established  them  for  two  years  on  the  Ogeechee,  in  what  was  then 
Columbia  county,  while  he,  with  his  negroes,  cleared  land,  made 
crops  and  fought  Indians  in  Hancock  county,” 

I have  referred  to  a Benjamin  Chappell,  supposed  to  be  the 
son  of  Samuel.  He  is  mentioned  in  the  records  as  “Benjamin 
Chappell,  of  Dinwiddle.”  He  was  a soldier  of  the  Revolution, 
removed  to  Amelia  and  entered  land  on  Namozine  creek.  He  was 
not  a son  of  Sarah  Crawley,  and  his  connection  is  not  positively 


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141 


known,  but  from  the  fact  that  Ben]*amin  is  a family  name  in  the 
Georgia  branch,  and  in  no  other,  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  he  was  a 
son  of  Samuel. 


THOMAS  CHAPPELL. 

Thomas  was  probably  the  oldest  son  of  Joseph  Chappell,  of 
Amelia  county,  Va.  The  family  records  (yet  preserved),  state 
that  he  was  born  in  Virginia  (the  county  is  not  given)  on  January 
23,  1761,  and  died  in  Twiggs  county,  Ga.,  September  1,  1836,  aged 
75  years.  The  record  found  in  Amelia  county  of  Joseph  Chap- 
pell, where  he  witnessed  the  will  of  Thos.  Booth,  v/as  on  Septem- 
ber 15,  1758.  So  that  he  probably  married  about  that  time,  and 
shortly  after  removed  from  Amelia  and,  if  the  tradition  be 
true,  settled  in  Southampton  county,  where  he  died.  Thomas 
Chappell,  therefore,  was  probably  born  either  in  Amelia  or  South- 
ampton county,  Ya.  He  married  a widow  named  Lavina  Wheless 
in  1797,  in  Hancock  county,  Ga.,  and  removed  to  Twiggs  county, 
where  he  lived  out  his  days.  He  was  an  old  bachelor  when  he 
married.  There  were  five  children  born  of  this  union,  whose 
names  were  as  follows  : Nancy,  Bethena,  Mahala,  Thomas  Sim- 

mons and  Joseph  John. 

1.  Nancy  Chappell,  m.  James  Hale,  of  Twiggs  county,  Ga., 
in  1816.  Issue  ; Twelve  children. 

I.  Rebecca,  m.  Mathew  Marshall  ; names  of  issue  not 
known.  Sumter  county. 

II.  Louisa,  m.  Brazwell  of  Crawford  county. 

III.  Lavina,  m.  Wiley  Fentral,  Crawford  county. 

IV.  Elizabeth,  m.  Littleberry  Cansey,  Sumter  county. 

V.  Mary,  m.  (2) — (1)  Win.  Hodges  ; (2)  Jesse  Stallings. 
Issue  ; One  son  by  each  marriage. 

^H.  Susan,  m.  Toliver  Lingo.  Emigrated  West. 

VII.  Matilda,  m.  Henry  Butts. 

VIII.  James,  m.  Martha  Johnson.  Issue  : Five. 

IX.  Judith,  m.  Oliver  Porter,  Macon  Ga. 

X.  Thomas,  m.  Sally  Cox,  Monroe  county,  Ga. 

XI.  Jonas,  died  single. 

XII.  John,  m.  Mary  Robertson,  Crawford  county. 


142 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


I have  not  been  able  to  obtain  the  names  of  the  grandchildren 
of  Nancy  and  James  Hale.  It  will  be  observed  that  many  of  their 
descendants  live  in  Sumter,  Crawford,  Monroe  and  adjoining 
counties,  Georgia. 

2.  Bethena  Chappell,  m.  (2) — (1)  Robert  Reynolds,  of 
Twiggs  county,  Ga.  Issue  : Six  children. 

I.  Thomas  Chappell,  m.  Nancy  Wall.  Issue  : Five. 

II.  Parmelia,  m.  Wm.  Hogan,  Macon,  Ga. 

III.  Charles,  m.  Martha  Jordan.  Removed  to  Alabama. 

IV.  Mary,  m.  John  Hogan.  Removed  to  Alabama. 

V.  Nancy,  m.  John  Wall.  Removed  to  Texas. 

VI.  Edwin,  d.  unm. 

After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  Bethena  m.  a second 
time  ; Wm.  E.  A.  Wall.  Issue  : Seven  children. 

I.  Jasper,  m.  (2) — (1)  Martha  Todd  ; no  issue ; (2) 
Caroline  Jackson.  Issue  ; Four. 

II.  James,  m.  Lucy  Wimberg,  Jeffersonville. 

III.  McCullum,  physician,  Laurens  county. 

IV.  Trussell,  m.  (name  of  wife  unknown). 

V.  Susan,  m.  Stephens. 

VI.  Cecelia,  unm. 

VII.  Rebecca,  m.  Hoover,  Wilkinson  county. 

3.  Mahala  Chappell,  m.  Daniel  T.  Epps,  of  Twiggs  county, 
Ga.  Issue  : 

I.  Edwin,  m.  Patience  Ryle.  Killed  in  C.  S.  army  at 
battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  1862. 

II.  Thomas  P.,  d.  unm. 

III.  Hartwell,  m.  Lavina  Church  well. 

IV.  Missouri,  m.  Elias  F.  Champion,  in  1851.  He  was 

killed  in  C.  S.  army  in  1863,  leaving  a widow  and 
four  children,  who  reside  in  Worth  county,  Ga. 

4.  Thomas  Simmons  Chappell,  oldest  son  of  Thomas,  was  b. 
in  Hancock  county,  Ga.,  June  24,  1801,  and  removed,  with  his 
father,  to  Twiggs  county,  and  there,  on  June  28,  1821,  in.  Ruth 
Nelson.  He  died  July  29,  1861,  and  she  on  May  27,  1874. 
Issue  : Seven  children. 

I.  Susan,  m.  Benj.  Thorp.  Issue  : Six  children. 

II.  Alexander,  b.  December  28,  1823,  m.  (2) — (1)  Eliza 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


143 


Bragg.  Issue  : Rufus  and  Samuel ; (2)  Georgia 

Hawkins.  Issue  : Ten  children. 

III.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  October  6,  1825,  m.  Henry  Arington. 

Issue  : Eight  children  ; Sumter  county. 

IV.  William,  b.  Xovember  12,  1827,  m.  Mary  McCullum^ 

d.  January  12,  1859.  Issue  : William  and  Archibald. 

V.  Xancy,  b.  December  24,  1830,  m.  Simeon  Tharp. 
Issue:  Four  children  ; Twiggs  county,  Ga. 

VI.  Roxie  Ann,  b.  August  20,  1836,  m.  Acton  E.  Nash, 
d.  1871.  Issue  : Four  children. 

VII.  Louisa,  b.  June  18,  1841,  m.  Kimbal  F.  Burkett. 
Issue  : Eight  children. 

5.  Joseph  .John  Chappell  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Ga.,. 
August  7,  1806,  and  was  the  youngest  child  of  Thomas  Chappell, 
m.  Mary  Hardin  Lingo,  in  Twiggs  county,  Ga. , July  6,  1826.  He 
d.  May  4,  1878  ; she  d.  June  2,  1885.  Issue  ; Ten  children. 

I.  Lucy  Mahala,  b.  November  10,  1828,  m.  .John  Cham- 
bliss. Issue  : Eight  children. 

II.  James  Thomas,  b.  September  10,  1830,  m.  Athalia 
Stanly.  Issue:  Five  sons,  viz.:  Ira  Stanly,  Clifton 
Thomas,  Clarence  Joseph,  Roy  James  and  Vance 
Lingo.  James  Thomas  Chappell  is  a physician,  and 
resides  with  his  five  sons  in  Dublin,  Ga.  A further 
reference  to  him  will  be  found  hereafter. 

III.  William  H.,  h.  November  28,  1833,  m.  Nancy  Sanders. 

Issue  : Two  sons — Benjamin  and  James. 

IV.  Roxie,  b.  December  9,  1835,  m.  Rev.  J.  H.  Cawood. 

Issue  : Two  sons — Julian  and  Max. 

V.  Almeda  E.,  b.  January  26,  1840,  unm. 

VI.  Benjamin  Thomas,  b.  September  14,  1841.  Killed 
in  C.  S.  army  in  battle  near  Staunton,  Va.,  in  .July, 
1862. 

VII.  Varilla  B.,  b.  March  21,  1843,  m.  Joseph  Josey. 
Issue  : Lorene  and  Leona. 

VIII.  Thomas  Andrew,  b.  April  3,  1845,  m.  (3) — (1) 
Lawhorn  ; no  issue ; (2)  Lawhorn,  sister  of  (1). 

Issue  : Three  children  ; (3)  Sessions.  Issue  : 

Floy,  Lucille  and  Gary. 


144 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


IX.  Allen  Elijah,  b.  Nov.  12,  1846,  m.  Nora  Allen. 
Issue  : Martha  and  Allen. 

X.  Joseph  John,  Jr.,  b.  Nov.  28,  1848,  formerly  a mer- 
chant in  Georgia,  emigrated  to  California  in  1876, 
now  cashier  of  the  U.  S.  custom  house  at  San  Fran- 
cisco ; unm.  In  him  we  find  combined  the  two  fa- 
vorite names  of  the  Georgia  branch — “Joseph”  and 
“John” — the  names  of  the  two  orphan  boys  who 
removed  to  Amelia  county,  Virginia,  with  their  aunt, 
Sarah  Crawley,  in  1746.  How  religiously  have 
these  names  been  preserved  and  perpetuated  in  this 
family  for  a century  and  a half  ! 

Occasionally  strange  coincidents  have  been  presented  in  the 
compilation  of  this  history,  opening  a wide  field  for  thought  to  the 
reflecting  mind.  There  reside  to-day  in  the  City  of  San  Francisco 
two  representatives  of  the  Chappell  family  who  are  unknown  to 
each  other.  One  is  Mr.  Joseph  John  Chappell,  the  other  Dr. 
McCoy  Chappell ; the  latter  a young  nephew  of  the  writer,  and 
who  is  of  the  tenth  generation  in  America.  The  former  is  older 
and  of  the  ninth  generation.  The  branches,  of  which  each  is  a 
representative,  do  not  converge  until  they  reach  Thomas  Chappell 
of  Charles  City  county,  Virginia,  referred  to  at  the  beginning  of 
this  chapter,  and  who  was  a common  ancestor.  Thomas  Chappell 
lived  in  1700,  two  centuries  ago. 

JOSEPH  CHAPPELL,  JR. 

Joseph  Chappell,  son  of  Joseph  Chappell  of  Amelia  county, 
Virginia,  died  in  Hancock  county,  Georgia,  in  1807.  We  have 
no  record  of  his  birth,  but  he  was  doubtless  a young  man  when  he 
died — perhaps  not  over  40  years  old.  But  little  is  known  of  his 
history,  as  he  died  when  his  children  were  young.  It  is  known, 
however,  that  he  left  four  sons,  whose  names  were  Absalom 
H.,  Joseph  John  (called  Jack),  Henry  and  Benjamin. 

1.  Absalom  H.  Chappell  was  the  oldest  son,  and  was  born 
in  Hancock  county,  Georgia,  in  1801.  In  1842  he  married  Loretta 
R.  Lamar,  a sister  of  Gen.  Mirabeau  B.  Lamar,  president  of  the 
Republic  of  Mexico.  She  was  the  aunt  of  the  late  Justice  L.  Q. 
C.  Lamar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  Absalom 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


145 


Harris  Chappell  was  no  ordinary  man.  He  became  a distinguished 
son  of  his  native  state,  and  was  in  his  day  an  eminent  lawyer  and 
statesman.  He  represented  one  of  the  districts  of  the  State  of 
Georgia  in  Congress  in  1844,  and  previous  to  the  civil  war  led  an 
active  professional  and  political  life.  He  was  a man  of  gigantic 
stature,  of  solid  and  lofty  character,  and  a model  of  integrity  and 
honor.  He  was  a ripe  scholar,  a polished  writer  and  a matchless 
orator.  He  died  in  Columbus,  Ga. , in  1878,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  77.  Many  years  ago  I corresponded  with  him  with  reference 
to  the  relationship  that  was  supposed  to  exist  betw^een  the  two 
branches  of  the  family  represented  by  us,  but  from  the 
paucity  of  the  information  which  we  possessed  no  relationship 
could  then  be  traced.  It  remained  for  the  writer,  two  decades 
later,  and  many  years  after  his  correspondent  had  passed  away,  to 
find  in  an  old  package  of  papers  stored  for  a century  and  a half 
among  the  archives  of  Amelia  county,  Virginia,  the  missing  link. 
Absalom  H.  Chappell  left  the  following  children  ; 

I.  Kebecca  Dolly,  m.  Toomer.  Issue  : Lamar, 

Loretta,  James,  and  Alice  R.  The  family  resides  at 
Portsmouth,  Ya. 

II.  Lamar  Chappell — Memphis,  Tenn.,  merchant. 

III.  Joseph  Harris — President  of  a college  at  Milledge- 
ville,  Ga.  One  child,  Cornelia. 

IV.  Thomas  J. — Member  of  the  Columbus,  Ga.,  bar. 

V.  Lucius  H. — Columbus,  Ga.  One  child,  Bently. 

2.  Joseph  John,  was  the  second  son  of  Joseph  Chappell,  Jr. 
He  was  called  “Jack,”  and  was  born  March  9,  1803.  Lived  in 
Macon  county,  Ga.,  emigrated  to  Autauga  county,  Ala.,  in  1824, 
m.  Susan  Taylor  in  1826,  and  d.  Sept.  24,  1858.  Issue  : 

I.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  Feb.  22,  1828,  m.  Alonzo  L.  Haralson, 
d.  Feb.  28,  1879.  Issue:  Jonathan,  Laura,  Doro- 
tha,  Etta,  William  and  Jennie. 

II.  Susan  Dorotha,  b.  Dec.  8,  1835,  m.  (2) — (1)  L.  S. 
Lavender,  (2)  Nathan  L.  May.  No  living  issue  ; d 
May  25,  1885. 

III.  Martha  E.,  b.  Dec.  4,  1837,  m.  Thomas  D.  Cory. 
Issue  : Thomas,  Daniel,  Chappell,  Miriam,  Alonzo, 
Charles,  Alice,  Elizabeth,  Charlotte,  and  Harris. 


146 


A GENEALO<?HCAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


3.  Henry  Chappell,  is  said  to  have  been  the  third  son  of 
Joseph  Chappell,  Jr.  He  was  born  in  1805,  and  removed  to 
Sumter  county,  Ga. , where  it  is  said  his  descendants  now  live. 
His  children  are  said  to  have  been  : 

I.  Mary  Francis,  m.  Doolittle. 

II.  Rebecca,  m.  Dailey. 

III.  Dolly,  m.  Mathews. 

IV.  George,  lives  at  Plains,  Ga. 

4.  Benjamin,  was  the  fourth  son  of  Joseph  Chappell,  Jr. 
He  was  born  about  1807,  lived  in  Putnam  county,  Ga.,  and  emi- 
grated to  Alabama.  He  is  said  to  have  had  but  two  children  liv- 
ing to  maturity.  One  of  these  was  a son  named  John,  who  died 
a bachelor  at  the  age  of  50.  The  other  was  a daughter  named 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  Flack.  They  live  at  Glennville,  Ala. 
The  name  ‘‘Chappell”  in  this  branch  is  believed  to  be  extinct. 

JOHN  CHAPPELL. 

John  was  the  third  son  of  Joseph  Chappell  of  Amelia.  He 
was,  doubtless,  born  in  Virginia,  and  immigrated  to  Georgia  with 
his  brothers.  He  married  and  had  children,  but  there  is  little  now 
known  of  him  or  his  descendants.  In  fact,  if  he  left  descendants 
they  have  become  separated  from,  and  entirely  lost  sight  of,  by 
other  branches  of  the  family  for  nearly  a century.  His  brothers, 
early  in  life,  emigrated  from  Hancock  county  ; it  is  said  that  he 
remained,  and  his  descendants,  may  yet  live  in  that  part  of  the 
state.  In  an  early  day  there  lived  in  Hancock  county,  Ga.,  two 
John  Chappells.  To  distinguish  them  one  was  called  “Long 
John,”  and  the  other  “Short  John.”  But  the  former  has  long 
since  passed  away,  and  the  latter  shortly  followed  him,  no  doubt. 

BENJAMIN  CHAPPELL. 

It  is  said  that  Benjamin  was  the  youngest  son  of  Joseph 
Chappell,  Sr.  His  history  is  only  known  by  tradition.  The  tra- 
dition in  the  family  is  that  when  a young  man  he  was  engaged  in 
harvesting,  and  jumped  over  a fence  and  struck  the  ground  near 
a rattlesnake.  He  was  bitten  by  the  snake,  from  the  effects  of 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


147 


which  he  died.  His  death  occurred  in  Hancock  county,  Ga., 
nearly  a hundred  years  ago,  and  having  never  married  he  left  no 
descendants  to  perpetuate  his  line. 

The  history  of  this  interesting  branch  of  the  Chappell  family, 
as  written  here,  has  been  obtained  from  correspondence  with  Mr. 
Thos.  J.  Chappell  of  Columbus,  Dr.  J.  T.  Chappell  of  Dub- 
lin, and  Mr.  Alexander  Chappell  of  Plains,  Ga.,  and  from  Mr. 
Chappell  Cory  of  Birmingham,  Ala.  These  are  all  gentlemen  of 
much  intelligence  and  prominence.  Thomas  J.  Chappell  is  an 
eminent  member  of  the  Columbus  bar.  Dr.  J.  T.  Chappell  was 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  Army — Captain  in  the  49th  Georgia 
regiment — and  Avas  severely  wounded  at  the  second  battle  of 
Manassas,  while  leading  a charge.  He  has  been  frequently  elected 
to  the  legislature  of  his  native  state,  and  has  held  many  positions 
of  honor  and  trust. 

Alexander  Chappell  of  Plains,  Ga.,  is  an  educated  man,  and 
has  furnished  some  valuable  data,  which  could  have  been  obtained 
from  no  other  source.  I desire  to  thank  him  for  his  courtesy. 

Mr.  Chappell  Cory,  to  whom  reference  has  been  made,  resides 
in  Birmingham,  Ala.  He  is  a scholarly  young  man,  by  profes- 
sion a journalist,  and  is  also  secretary  of  the  Commercial  Club  of 
that  city.  He  is  spoken  of  as  a young  man  of  great  enterprise 
and  promise. 

The  Georgia  Chappells  are  a typical  Southern  family,  and 
among  them  have  been  many  men  of  more  than  usual  prominence 
and  worth.  Like  all  other  branches  of  the  family,  they  have  gen- 
erally followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  were  among  the  wealth- 
iest cotton  planters  in  that  state  in  the  olden  days — wealthy  as 
riches  were  reckoned  in  the  South  in  18(i0.  In  later  years  a great 
many  of  the  younger  generations  have  quit  the  cotton  fields  for  the 
counting  house  and  learned  professions  and  are  educating  their 
children  in  the  best  colleges  in  the  land.  The  character  of  the 

family,  I learn,  has  been  above  reproach.  No  man  has  ever  been 

charged  with  a felony  or  misdemeanor,  and  there  have  been  no 
criminals  among  them.  When  the  great  struggle  of  1861 
came,  and  the  red  cloud  of  war  burst  over  the  land,  our  Georgia 
kindred  Avere  found  in  the  front  rank  of  battle,  and  as  patriotic 
citizens  were  loyal  to  the  South  and  their  native  state.  In  all  re- 


148 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OE  THE 


spects  they  have  maintained  the  reputation  of  the  family  for  in- 
telligence, industry  and  integrity,  until  the  name  “Chappell”  in 
the  State  of  Georgia,  as  elsewhere  in  the  South  and  West,  is 
synonymous  wdth  the  highest  type  of  American  citizenship. 


ROBERT  CHAPPELL-THE  NORTH  CARO- 
LINA BRANCH. 

About  the  year  1770  there  lived  on  the  south  bank  of  Dan 
river,  in  what  is  now  Mecklenberg  county,  Virginia,  near  the 
confluence  of  the  Dan  and  Staunton  rivers,  a pioneer,  whose  family 
consisted  of  a wife,  several  daughters  and  a son— the  latter  then  a 
lad  of  ten  or  twelve  years* — and  the  youngest  of  the  children. 
This  w^as  then  on  the  very  outskirts  of  civilization,  and  the  prox- 
imity of  the  Indians  caused  the  family  to  live  in  constant  fear  and. 
dread,  and  to  be  ever  on  the  alert.  The  house  in  which  they 
lived  was  the  rudely  built  frontier  cabin,  customary  at  that  period, 
and  was  built  of  hewn  logs.  There  was  not  a particle  of  iron 
used  in  its  construction — not  even  a nail. 

This  pioneer  was  Robert  Chappell,  the  progenitor  of  the 
North  Carolina  branch.  The  lad  was  Samuel  Chappell,  the  story 
of  whose  life,  as  it  has  come  down  to  us  in  a well  authenticated 
tradition,  reads  more  like  a romance  of  thrilling  adventure  than 
the  stern  reality  that  it  was.  The  family  continued  to  live  at  this 
place  until  the  death  of  the  father,  which  occurred  about  this 
time — 1770.  On  his  death  the  widow  and  her  children  removed 
across  the  state  line  into  the  adjoining  coiiiUy  of  Granville  in 
North  Carolina,  where  they  lived  for  several  years.*  The 
daughters,  as  they  grew  to  wmmanhood,  maTried  ; one  returned  to 
Virginia,  the  others,  it  is  said,  removed  Westward.  Their  names 
are  unknown. 

The  tradition  already  referred  to  runs  in  this  wise  : That 

their  immigrant  ancestor  was  another  Robert  Chappell,  who,  with 
a brother  named  John,  came  from  England  at  an  early  day  (the 
year  is  not  knowm),  and  settled  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  where 
the  city  of  Norfolk  is  now  located. f Here  John  died  without 


=<=  The  reader  can  follow  these  old  people  more  satisfactorily  by  constilting  a map. 
■t  The  City  of  Norfolk  is  at  the  mouth  of  James  river. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


149 


issue.  The  other  brother  removed  further  west,  married  and  be- 
came the  father  of  a family  of  children,  from  one  of  whom,  Rob- 
ert of  Mecklenberg — their  ancestor — was  a descendant.  How 
many  generations  had  intervened  between  the  two  Roberts  is  not 
known  ; but  there  were  several.  It  is  also  said  the  two  brothers 
were  ship-carpenters,  and  had  learned  the  trade  in  the  old  country. 

This  is  the  tradition  -as  it  has  come  down  from  father  to  son  ; 
an  expression  literally  true  in  this  instance,  for  strange  as  it  may 
appear,  Samuel,  who  was  born  in  1758,  lived  until  1848,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  90,  while  his  son — Edward — (who  will  be  referred 
to  hereafter)  was  born  in  1788  and  lived  until  1881,  dying  at  the 
age  of  93  years,  so  that  the  united  lives  of  father  and  son  spanned 
a period  of  123  years,  or  from  1758  to  1881,  a period  ante-dating 
the  American  Revolution.  This  is  an  instance  of  longevity  almost 
without  a parallel,  and  accounts  for  the  very  complete  and  au- 
thentic traditions  that  have  “come  down  from  father  to  son”  in 
the  Xorth  Carolina  family. 

A remarkable  similarity  will  be  observed  between  this  tradi- 
tion and  the  facts,  as  they  have  been  revealed  by  the  records  in 
the  Colony  of  Virginia.  The  first  ancestors  of  the  family  were 
named  John  and  Robert,  but  they  were  grandfather  and  grandson, 
and  not  brothers.  They  may — one  of  them  at  least — have  been  a 
ship-carpenter,  for  it  is  altogether  probable  that  Capt.  John  Chap- 
pell, of  the  ship  “Speedwell,”  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  at 
that  early  day,  'understood  the  mechanical  construction  of  his 
vessel,  and  was  a ship-carpenter  as  well  as  a navigator.  The  tra- 
dition settles  one  question  beyond  a doubt  ; the  Xorth  Carolina 
Chappells  are  the  descendants  of  the  early  immigrants  of  the  same 
name  who  came  from  England  to  the  Colony  of  Virginia  in  1635. 

But  let  us  compare  the  records  found  in  Virginia  with  these 
old  traditions,  and  endeavor  to  find  the  connecting  link  between 
the  Xorth  Carolina  branch  and  the  main  trunk  of  the  Chappell 
family  that  settled  iu  the  colony.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
Sarah  Crawley,  who  died  in  Amelia  Co.,  Va.,  in  January,  1761, 
left  a will,  and  in  it  are  mentioned  the  names  of  her  three  sons  by 
her  first  husband — Thomas  Chappell  of  Petersburg."  These  sons 
were  Robert,  John  and  James  Chappell,  and  Robert’s  name  having 

* See  Chapter  III ; Petersburg  was  in  Prince  George  in  1720. 


150 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


been  mentioned  first,  it  is  presumed  that  he  was  the  oldest  son. 
The  ages  and  dates  of  the  births  of  John  and  James  are  well  es- 
tablished. They  were  born  in  Prince  George  county  about  1720 
and  1722.  The  fact  is  also  well  established  that  they  were  mar- 
ried before  their  removal  to  Amelia,  in  1746.  It  is  reasonable  to 
assume  that  Robert  was  also  married  at  that  time  ; and  if  so,  he 
must  have  married  in  Prince  George  between  1740  and  1745.  The 
older  Chappells  all  married  early  in  life,  and  it  is  not  probable  that 
he  was  an  exception. 

The  first  account  found  in  the  Amelia  records  of  Robert 
Chappell  was  his  marriage,  on  November  21,  1757,  to  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Wm.  Cross.  He  was  at  that  time  about  40  years  old. 
The  most  natural  conclusion,  therefore,  is  that  she  was  his  second 
wife,  and  that  he  had  married  in  Prince  George,  before  coming  to 
Amelia,  and  by  this  wife  had  children,  who,  if  the  tradition  be 
correct,  were  all  daughters.  On  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  mar- 
ried Agnes  Cross,  by  whom  he  had  one  child — the  boy,  Samuel — 
born  in  1758  or  1759.  About  1767  he  removed  to  Mecklenberg 
county,  fifty  or  sixty  miles  southwest  from  Amelia,  and  there  died, 
about  1770  (as  has  been  stated)  at  the  age  of  50.  The  name 
“Robert  Chappell”  was  found  in  but  two  other  places  in  the 
Amelia  records.  First,  on  September  15,  1758,  when  he  witnessed 
the  will  of  Thomas  Booth  ; and  the  second  time  on  June  22,  1766, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  probate  of  the  same  will,  when  he  appeared 
in  court  and  made  proof  of  the  document.  (See  history  of  Joseph 
Chappell.) 

Again  have  we  cause  to  lament  the  wanton  destruction  of  the 
archives  of  Prince  George  county.  Had  they  been  preserved,  evi- 
dence would  there  have,  perhaps,  been  found  to  throw  additional 
light  on  this  subject,  sufficient  to  have  established,  beyond  a doubt, 
the  fact  that  Robert  Chappell,  of  Amelia,  and  Robert  Chappell, 
the  pioneer  of  Dan  river,  were  one  and  the  same  individual. 

SAMUEL  CHAPPELL. 

Of  all  the  characters  whose  histories  are  chronicled  in  this 
little  volume,  Samuel  Chappell  was  the  most  unique.  Born  in  an 
age  and  in  a country  where  there  were  no  schools,  he  was  without 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


151 


education  and  could  not  write  his  name.  Yet  such  was  the  natural 
strength  and  aptitude  of  his  mind  that  he  became  possessed  of  a 
fund  of  information  that  rendered  him  the  peer  of  those  having 
superior  educational  advantages.  Small  in  stature,  with  a bright, 
blue  eye,  and  a dark  complexion,  he  was  an  athlete,  and  was  as 
wiry  and  tough  as  a hickory  withe.  He  possessed  an  unusual 
amount  of  energy  and  vitality.  The  former  carried  him  safely 
through  many  hardships,  and  the  latter  prolonged  his  life  to 
nearly  a century.  Born  and  reared  in  the  hard  school  of  adversity 
and  poverty — the  only  son  of  a poor  widow — he  was  a patriot,  a 
man  of  sterling  integrity,  a kind  husband,  father  and  friend,  and 
a soldier  utterly  without,  fear.  Such  was  the  ancestor  of  our 
North  Carolina  kindred.  A worthy  sire  of  a rugged,  fearless  and 
patriotic  race. 

It  is  an  historical  fact  that  the  first  spark  that  kindled  the 
flame  of  the  American  Revolution  originated  in  Orange  county, 
N.  C.,  in  the  same  neighborhood  where  Samuel  Chappell  then 
lived.  The  oppression  of  Great  Britain  had  become  so  grievous 
that  in  1771  the  people,  under  the  leadership  of  one  Herman  Hus- 
band, determined  to  resist  further  encroachments  on  their  liberties. 
The  result  was  an  engagement  between  the  troops  of  the  King  and 
the  ragged  and  unarmed  patriots.  It  occurred  on  the  banks  of 
the  Alamance.  There  were  only  about  two  thousand  men  engaged 
and  the  “rebels”  were  defeated.  It  was  not  much  of  a battle,  but 
it  created  intense  excitement  throughout  the  country  at  the  time, 
and  was,  in  fact,  the  entering  wedge  which  resulted,  five  years 
later,  in  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence,  and,  finally, 
in  the  severance  of  the  Colonies  from  the  Mother  Country.  This 
conflict  is  known  in  history  as  “Herman  Husband’s  Rebellion.” 
Samuel  Chappell,  although  but  13  years  old,  remembered  it  well, 
heartily  sympathized  with  the  movement,  and  often  referred  to  it 
in  after  years. 

It  is  not  strange  that  the  breast  of  a youth  with  such  environ- 
ments should  soon  have  become  filled  with  patriotic  fire.  The 
rebellion  in  Orange  county  was  but  the  flash  of  lightning  before 
the  storm,  and  young  Samuel  had  not  long  to  wait.  It  required 
thirty  days  at  that  time  for  the  news  of  the  declaration  of  war  to 
be  transmitted  from  Boston  to  Hillsborough,  N.  C.  On  the  first  call 


152 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


for  volunteers  be  responded,  and  left  home  in  opposition  to  the 
wishes  of  his  mother,  it  is  said,  and  made  his  way  to  Eastern  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  enlisted  in  the  “Rebel”  army.  He  was  then  18 
years  old. 

His  army  life  is  a matter  of  record  in  his  family,  and  has  been 
preserved  to  the  present  time.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Washington,  and  first  saw  the  great  commander 
at  the  battle  of  Trenton,  which  was  his  first  engagement.  He  was 
severely  Avounded  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine  and  was  removed 
to  Philadelphia,  where  his  wounds  were  dressed  and  he  was  cared 
for  by  the  patriotic  women  of  that  city.  He  recovered  in  a few 
weeks  and  participated  in  every  engagement  of  that  campaign  in 
which  Washington  commanded,  including  the  battles  of  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Brandywine,  Germantown,  Monmouth  and  Stony 
Point.  In  the  spring  of  1780,  the  climate  having  proved  too 
rigorous  for  the  Southern  troops,  they  were  transferred,  under  Gen. 
Lincoln,  to  the  Southern  department.  The  North  Carolina  volun- 
teers were  of  the  number  transferred,  and  included  Samuel.  On 
May  12th  of  that  year  the  City  of  Charleston  was  captured  by  the 
British,  and  he  surrendered  and  was  placed  on  parole.  An  order 
was  issued  by  Lord  Cornwallis  that  “All  paroled  prisoners  should 
either  enlist  in  the  British  army  or  be  taken  on  board  the  prison 
ships  and  there  be  kept  in  close  confinement.”  Samuel  Chappell, 
being  a youth,  was  detailed  to  carry  the  mails  for  the  British. 
While  engaged  in  this  service  he,  with  a comrade,  made  his 
escape,  and  after  great  suffering  and  hardship  made  his  way  to  his 
home  in  North  Carolina.  Soon  after  his  return  the  militia  were 
called  out  to  repel  an  invasion  of  the  enemy  ; this  was  imme- 
diately after  the  battle  of  Camden.  He  responded  to  the  call,  and 
at  once  reported  to  Gen.  Green,  who  had  superseded  Lincoln  in 
the  command  of  the  department.  After  the  famous  retreat  across 
the  Dan,  he  fell  back  with  Gen.  Green’s  army  to  Guilford  Court 
House,  in  North  Carolina.  On  the  morning  of  the  battle  at  that 
place  (March  15,  1781),  he  was  (being  a veteran)  transferred  from 
the  militia  to  the  regulars.  In  this  battle  he  was  again  wounded, 
but  recovered  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs, 
which  occurred  shortly  after  ; and  which  he  always  said  was  the 
hardest  fought  battle  of  the  war  in  which  he  was  engaged.  He 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES.  15S 

then  marched  with  his  command  to  Yorktown  and  was  present  at 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  on  October  19,  1781.  This  was  the 
crowning  victory  of  the  war,  and  virtually  ended  the  struggle  for 
American  independence. 

The  sufferings  of  this  young  patriot  at  Valley  Forge,  and  in 
the  Northern  campaign,  will  never  be  known.  A boy  in  years,^ 
barefooted  and  half  clad,H’aised  in  a Southern  climate,  he  was  illy 
prepared  to  endure  the  ice  and  snow  of  a Northern  country.  The 
sufferings  of  the  patriot  army  at  this  time  are  a matter  of  history. 
Samuel  Chappell’s  only  recompense  for  his  six  years’  service  in 
the  army  was  a consciousness  of  having  discharged  his  duty,  and  a 
pension  received  from  the  government  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  winter  of  1782  he  returned  to  his  home  and  married 
Mary  Pollard,  with  whom  he  lived  sixty-five  years,  and  until  his 
death.  They  lived  for  many  years  on  Neuse  river,  near  the 
mouth  of  Beaver  Dam,  in  Wake  county,  N.  C.,  on  a farm  now  known 
as  the  ‘‘Uncle  Sam  Chappell  place,”  but  in  1796  removed  to  a tract 
of  land  which  he  bought  in  Granville  county,  on  Ledge  of  Rock 
creek,  and  there  he  and  his  good  old  wife  lived  out  their  days, 
he  dying,  as  has  been  stated,  in  1848,  at  the  age  of  90  years.  She 
died  about  1858 — surviving  her  husband  about  ten  years.  The 
farm  on  which  they  died  is  now  owned  by  William  A.  Beck,  a 
relative  of  the  family.  There  were  born  to  Samuel  and  Mary 
Chappell  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  lived  to  maturity,  whose 
names  are  mentioned  in  the  order  of  their  ages  ; Mary,  Susan, 
Richard,  Edward,  Benjamin,  Ann,  William,  Samuel  and  Nancy. 

1.  Mary,  (who  was  called  Polly)  b.  1783,  m.  David  Chap- 
pell, a relative  from  Virginia,  and  removed  to  Guilford  county, 
N.  C.,  about  1810.  Their  desendants  are  yet  living  in  that  county, 
but  their  names  have  not  been  ascertained. 

2.  Susan,  b.  1785,  m.  Lawrence  Keith,  of  Wake  county. 
Issue  : William,  James,  Wiley,  Theodosia,  Mary,  Israel,  Tobias 
and  Elizabeth.  Mary  m.  Kendrick  Goodwin,  and  Elizabeth  m. 
Pinkney  Warren.  All  of  these  were  born  between  1816  and  1829. 
Nothing  further  is  known,  except  that  their  descendants  live  in 
Wake  county,  N.  C. 

3.  Richard  Chappell,  b.  1786,  m.  Ann  Inscore,  about  1818. 
Issue  ; 


10— 


154 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


I.  Major  Hinton,  b.  1820,  m.  (2) — (1)  Susan  Emory. 
Issue  : Two  sons,  Horace  and  John,  and  a daughter, 

(name  unknown)  m.  Rhodes,  and  emigrated  to 

Tennessee.  John  is  dead;  Horace  lives  in  Gran- 
ville county  ; (2)  m.  Sarah  Ann  Issue : 

William  and  James  ; both  live  in  Wake  county,  N.  C. 

II.  John  Wesley,  b.  1822,  m.  (2) — (1)  Betsy  Ann  Gar- 
ner. Issue  : Three  daughters,  whose  names  are  un- 
known; one  m.  Beck,  one  Cash  and  the 

other Coley.  All  are  living  and  have  issue. 

(2)  m.  (name  of  wife  unknown).  John  Wesley  lives 
in  what  is  known  as  the  “Bright  tobacco  belt,”  in 
Granville  county,  N.  C. 

III.  Matilda  Green,  b.  1824,  m.  (2) — (1)  Wm.  Robinson; 

(2)  Gallagher. 

IV.  Alfred  R.,  b.  1826,  m.  Jane  Sorrell.  Lives  in  Frank- 

lin county  and  is  a tobacco  planter. 

V.  William  Hawkins,  b.  1828,  m.  Susan  J.  Shearon 
(his  cousin),  emigrated  to  Tennessee  in  1856.  Noth- 
ing further  known  of  them. 

VI.  Minton,  b.  1830,  m.  Amanda  Wilson  January  5, 1854. 
Issue  : William,  Leroy,  Eugene,  Amanda,  John  and 
Minton.  They  live  in  Granville  and  Wake  counties. 
4.  Edward  Chappell,  b.  January  22,  1788,  m.  Sarah  Robert- 
son, 1816.  Lived  in  Granville  county.  Was  a soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812.  Died  near  Raleigh  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  93,  having 
attained  a greater  age  than  any  member  of  any  branch  of  the 
Chappell  family,  as  far  as  known.  Issue  : 

I.  Elias  Kimbal,  b.  August  30,  1817.  Has  never  mar- 
ried, and  is  living  at  the  age  of  78  on  the  old  home- 
stead, near  Raleigh. 

II.  William  Harvey,  b.  February  28,  1819,  m.  Martha 
Philips,  d.  1879.  Issue  : Four.  Martha  Van, 

Octavia,  Charles  and  Mary.  Some  of  these  live  in 
Raleigh. 

HI.  Leroy,  b.  July  21,  1822.  Is  a physician.  First 
settled  in  Lenoir  county,*  removed  to  Forestville,  in 


* Named  for  Gen.  Wm.  Lenoir  of  the  Revolution.  See  Chapter  V. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KIXDRED  FAMILIES. 


155 


Wake  county,  where  he  now  resides,  m.  Elizabeth 
Norcross.  Issue  now  living  : Two  sons,  Leroy  K. 
and  Henry  A.  The  former  was  b.  April  14,  1860, 
was  educated  at  the  L^niversity  of  Virginia,  and  at  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  m.  Ella 
Moore,  1888,  and  went  to  Chin-Kiang,  China,  several 
years  ago,  where  he  is  engaged  in  missionary  work, 
being  a minister  of  the  Baptist  church.  They  have 
three  children,  born  in  China.  He  is  a well 
educated  man  and  an  accomplished  scholar  and 
speaks  the  Chinese  language  fluently,  a very  rare 
accomplishment,  as  the  language  is  exceedingly 
difiicult  to  learn. 

IV.  Edna  Caroline,  b.  September  6,  1824,  m.  P.  C.  Fer- 
rell, 1846.  Issue  living  to  maturity,  one  son,  Albert 
S.  Ferrell.  He  was  a Confederate  soldier,  and  was 
captured  and  confined  in  prison  at  the  age  of  16. 
His  youth,  and  the  barbarous  treatment  he  received, 
caused  his  death.  His  mother  died  in  1892  and  his 
father  in  1893. 

V.  Minton  V^ancy,  b.  December  10,  1826.  He  was 
highly  educated,  was  by  profession  a teacher,  andd. 
in  August,  1857,  while  president  of  a college  at 
Kinston,  X.  C. 

VI.  John  Yarborough,  b.  February  20,  1829.  He  is  an 
old  bachelor  and  resides  with  his  brother,  Elias,  on 
the  old  farm,  near  Raleigh.  One  of  the  bachelor 
brothers  is  66  and  the  other  78  years  old. 

VII.  Palmyra  Lafayette  is  the  youngest  surviving  child  of 
Edward  Chappell.  She  was  b.  May  14,  1835,  m. 
Alexander  H.  Beddingfield  in  1862.  He  died  in  the 
Coufederate  army  Xovember  9,  1863.  Issue  : One 
son,  (Eugene  C.)  who  wflll  be  referred  to  hereafter. 
He  was  born  October  10,  1862,  m.  Nannie  Peebles  in 
1881.  Issue  now  living  : Alexander,  Eugene, 

Charles  and  Rebecca.  Mr.  Beddingfield  resides  near 
Raleigh,  and  his  mother,  who  is  a widow,  lives 
with  him. 


156 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


5.  Benjamin  Chappell,  b.  1790,  m.  Elizabeth  Emory,  d. 
1833.  Issue  : 

I.  Darling,  b.  1819.  Resides  in  Granville  county.  Is 
married  and  has  children,  whose  names  are  unknown. 

II.  Andrew  Jackson,  b.  1821.  He  married  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  and  has  no  issue.  He  lives  near  his 
brother  Darling,  and  is  locally  known  as  “Coffee 
Jack”  to  distinguish  him  from  his  cousin,  John 
Wesley  (son  of  Richard  Chappell),  who,  on  account 
of  his  slender  statue,  is  called  “Sparrow  Jack.” 

III.  Hawkins,  (a  daughter)  b.  1823,  m.  Tucker. 

Nothing  further  known. 

IV.  Alicia,  b.  1825.  Nothing  known  of  her. 

6.  Ann  Elizabeth  Chappell,  (called  Betsy  Ann)  b.  1792,  m. 
Aaron  Shearon.  Issue  : Three  sons  and  a daughter.  Names  un- 
known. Their  descendants  live  in  Wake  county. 

7.  William  Chappell,  b.  1794,  m.  Ann  Sykes.  Issue:  Four, 
Mary,  Anna,  Rufus  and  Dennis.  The  family  emigrated  to 
Tennessee  many  years  ago.  Nothing  further  known. 

8.  Samuel  Chappell,  Jr.,  b.  1800,' m.  Cynthia  Sorrell.  Lived 
in  Wake  county.  Issue:  Three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

I.  Allen,  was  killed  in  C.  S.  army.  He  left  a son, 
Alfred,  who  emigrated  to  Florida.  If  there  were 
other  children  nothing  is  known  of  them. 

II.  Edward,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  Confederate 
army.  ^ His  residence  is  unknown,  but  he  has  a son, 
John,  living  in  Asheville,  N.,  C. 

III.  Young,  was  also  a Confederate  soldier,  was  cap- 

tured during'  the  war  and  was  never  heard  of  after- 
wards. Probably  dead. 

IV.  Ann  Elizabeth,  ra.  Matthew  Johnson.  They  and 

their  descendants  are  supposed  to  be  living  in  Wake 
county. 

V.  Julia,  was  the  youngest  child  of  Samuel  Chappell. 
Her  history  is  unknown  to  my  informant. 

Samuel  Chappell,  Jr.,  the  father  of  these  children,  died  in  1885, 
near  Raleigh.  In  stature  he  was  small,  had  blue  eyes,  and  a fair 
complexion.  Edward,  his  brother,  was  taller  and  a handsomely 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


157 


proportioned  man.  Most  of  his  children  had  dark  complexions, 
black  hair  and  fine  dark  eyes. 

9.  Nancy  Chappell,  b.  1802,  m.  James  Sykes,  1821.  Issue: 

I.  Murphy,  b.  1823.  Killed  in  C.  S.  army. 

II.  John,  b.  1825.  Lives  on  Neuse  river. 

III.  Wesley.  Was  a soldier  in  C.  S.  army.  Has  never 

been  heard  of  since  the  war.  Probably  killed  and 
fills  an  unknown  grave. 

IV.  Wiley.  Emigrated  to  California  in  ’49.  Has  never 
been  heard  of  since. 

V.  Sarah,  b.  1831.  Unm. 

Some  of  the  children  of  Samuel  Chappell,  Sr.,  the  old  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  like  their  father,  lived  to  very  old  ages,  as  will  be 
observed  : 

Nancy  was  born  in  1802,  d.,  1892,  ae. , 90. 

Edward  was  born  in  1788,  d.,  1881,  ae.,  93. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1800,  d.,  1885,  ae.,  85. 

The  North  Carolina  Chappells  have,  unlike  many  other 
branches,  remained  in  the  same  state  and  the  same  locality  for 
more  than  a century.  A few  of  the  younger  generations,  as  they 
have  grown  up,  have  emigrated  to  the  South  and  West;  but  by  far  the 
larger  number  still  remain  in  Granville,  Wake  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties, the  same  section  of  the  state  in  which  their  great-grandfather, 
Samuel  Chappell,  settled  on  removing  to  the  State  in  1770.  The 
family,  above  every  other  branch,  seems  to  be  remarkable  for  its 
longevity.  As  they  are  of  the  same  stock  of  people,  this  can 
only  be  attributed  to  the  healthfulness  of  the  country  in  which 
they  have  lived,  for  there  is  no  healthier  country  than  the  Northern 
and  Western  parts  of  North  Carolina.  Like  all  other  branches 
they  have  for  generations  been  farmers  and  planters,  and  this,  no 
doubt,  has  had  much  to  do  in  developing  their  hardy  constitutions 
and  in  prolonging  their  lives. 

For  generations  they  have  been  a plain,  honest  and  industrious 
people.  None  ever  becoming  very  rich,  yet  few  too  poor  to  own 
their  homes.  Many  were  large  land  owners  before  1861,  and  all 
yet  live  in  comfortable  circumstances.  They  belong  to  that  great 
middle  class — the  honest  yeomanry  of  the  land.  They  are  a fam- 
ily of  fighters;  peaceable  if  undisturbed,  but  dangerous  if  aroused. 


158 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


There  are  no  cowards  among  their  number,  and  there  is  not  one 
of  the  name  who  is  not  ready  at  any  and  all  times,  and  under  any 
and  all  circumstances,  to  resent  an  insult.  It  is  said  that  during 
the  Civil  war  every  man  and  boy  capable  of  bearing  arms  was  in 
the  Confederate  army;  their  record — as  written  here — establishes 
their  loyalty  to  the  South. 

Physically,  the  family  has  not  been  noted  for  their  great  stat- 
ures, nor  have  the  men  been  noted  specially  for  their  good  looks. 
But  they  are  a robust,  hardy  race,  and  possess  strong  features, 
strong  characters  and  are  strong  men  physically,  morally  and  men- 
tally, and  as  a family  have  always  been  noted  for  their  manly 
courage. 

The  data  from  which  this  sketch  has  been  compiled  has  been 
furnished  by  Hon.  E.  C.  Beddingfield,  of  Raleigh,  a descendant  of 
the  family.  Mr.  Beddingfield  is  one  of  the  railroad  commissioners 
of  his  state,  and  is  a gentleman  of  culture,  intelligence  and  high 
social  and  political  standing.  I desire  to  express  my  gratitude  for 
his  courtesy  and  kindness. 

I am  inclined  from  my  investigations  to  believe  that  there 
was  still  another  North  Carolina  family  of  Chappells,  besides  the 
one  referred  to  in  this  chapter.  A half  a century  ago  there  lived 
in  Camden  Co.,  Missouri — then  a frontier  settlement — an  old  man 
whose  name  was  Absalom  Chappell.  He  said  that  he  emigrated 
to  that  section  many  years  before  from  North  Carolina.  He  was 
a pioneer,  and  a Southern  man  beyond  a doubt,  and  was  highly 
respected  by  his  neighbors.  He  is  long  since  dead,  and  if  he  left 
any  descendants  it  is  now  unknown. 

There  is  also  a family  of  Chappells  now  living  near  Lebanon, 
Indiana,  with  whom  I have  corresponded.  They  spell  the  name  as 
we  do,  and  claim  to  be  the  descendants  of  one  James  Chappell,  who 
immigrated  to  that  country  from  North  Carolina  in  1809.  There 
is  good  reason  to  believe  that  they  are  of  Southern  origin.  I do 
not  believe  that  either  of  these  were  off-shoots  of  Robert  Chappell, 
of  Mecklenberg,  for  there  have  been  no  “lost  tribes”  among  his 
descendants.  As  far  back  as  1700  the  names  of  two  Chappells 
were  found  in  an  old  North  Carolina  history.  These  names 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


159 


appeared  on  an  old  muster  roll  and  were  spelled  “Chapel” — perhaps 
a clerical  error.  They  were  probably  members  of  the  Virginia 
family  who  had  crossed  over  the  line  and  settled  in  the  Eastern 
part  of  the  colony  of  Xorth  Carolina.  The  two  families  referred 
to  may  have  sprung  from  these. 


V 


160 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORX  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  IX. 


The  Two  South  Carolina  Branches  of  the  Chappell  Fam- 
ily— Robert,  the  Immigrant  of  1770,  and  Thomas,  the 
Immigrant  of  1750. 

From  the  middle  of  the  Eighteenth  century  to  the  time  of  the 
American  Revolution,  there  were  but  two  paths  open  to  the  young 
Virginian  who  desired  to  better  his  condition  by  seeking  a new 
home  in  a more  fertile  country  than  was  to  be  found  in  the  Eastern 
part  of  the  colony.  One  of  these  led  westward  towards  the  Al- 
leghany and  Blue  Ridge  mountains,  the  other  led  southward  to 
the  Carolinas  and  Georgia.  It  was  the  former  that  was  taken  just 
before  the  Revolution  by  Robert  Chappell,  who  settled  in  Meck- 
lenberg  County  in  1770,  and  by  his  nephews,  the  sons  of  John 
and  James  Chappell,  when  they  removed  from  Amelia  to  Halifax 
County,  Va.,  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  1782. 

It  was  the  other  path  that  was  followed  by  Joseph  Chappell, 
the  founder  of  the  Georgia  branch,  when  he  emigrated  from 
Amelia  about  1760,  by  Thomas  Chappell,  who  emigrated  from 
the  Eastern  part  of  the  colony,  about  1750,  and  Robert  Chappell, 
who  emigrated  from  Prince  George  county  in.  1770,  the  latter  two 
of  whom  became  the  progenitors  of  the  two  South  Carolina 
branches. 

All  of  that  vast  territory  lying  to  the  south  and  west,  be- 
yond the  Alleghany  and  Cumberland  mountains,  including  Ala- 
bama, Middle  and  West  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  to  which  a 
later  generation  migrated,  had  not  then  been  opened  to  civilization; 
and  was  uninhabited,  except  by  the  wild  savage.  The  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  including  that  great  valley,  was,  prior 
to  the  purchase  by  Mr.  Jefferson  (1803),  an  unknown  wilderness  ; 
its  forests  untrodden  by  the  foot  of  the  white  man,  and  the  bosom 
of  its  magnificent  streams  unruffled,  ssLve  by  the  canoe  of  the 
Indian. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KIKDRED  FAMILIES. 


161 


The  emigrant,  when  he  left  home  and  friends,  virtually 
‘‘burned  the  bridges  behind  him,”  for  there  were  no  means  of  com- 
munication at  that  early  day,  as  there  are  now.  There  were  no 
steamboats,  railroads,  telegraphs,  nor  even  a mail  service;  and  the 
only  way  in  which  intelligence  could  then  be  conveyed  to  and  from 
his  former  home,  was  by  the  return  of  some  friend,  or  the  arrival  of 
some  newcomer.  I have  several  old  letters,  written  at  a much 
later  period,  but  still  nearly  a century  ago.  They  were  neatly  and 
sometimes  fantastically  folded,  for  there  were  no  envelopes  used 
then,  and  sealed  with  sealing  wax  or  a red  wafer,  and  on  one^cor- 
ner  above  the  superscription  was  written,  "‘25  cents,”  or  “50  cents,” 
which  was  the  postage,  the  receiver  was  required  to  pay. 

It  is  not  strange,  then,  ■ when  we  consider  the  difficulty  that 
existed  at  that  day  of  communicating  with  relatives  and  friends 
who  had  been  left  at  a far  distant  home,  that  some  branches  of 
the  family  should  have  become  lost,  nor  is  it  strange  that  the  con- 
nection which  is  known  to  exist  between  the  families  who  found 
homes  in  the  Southern  colonies  before  the  Revolution,  and  the 
Virginia  Chappells,  cannot  now  be  distinctly  traced,  or  established 
with  absolute  certainty.  There  are  other  Chappells  in  the  South- 
ern and  W estern  states,  who,  while  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
they  are  descended  from  the  Colonial  family,  can  not  now  trace 
their  connection.  It  was  not  unusual  for  a vouno:  man  to  marrv, 
leave  the  “home  nest,”  emigrate  to  the  distant  frontier,  and 
there  establish  a home  of  his  own.  The  entry,  “Emigrated  to 
Tennessee,”  “Emigrated  to  Texas,”  “Removed  West— nothing 
further  known,”  may  have  been  frequently  observed  in  these  pages. 
These  may  appropriately  be  called  the  “lost  tribes”  of  the  family ; 
and  should  you  meet  a tall  or  medium-sized  man,  bearing  the  name 
^‘Chappell,”  with  a dark  complexion,  black  hair  and  eyes,  unpol- 
ished, perhaps,  but  possessing  strong  features,  denoting  an  intelli- 
gent mind,  and  personal  courage  ; one  whose  manners  and  dialect 
indicate  a Southern  origin,  you  “may  set  him  down  ” although  he 
may  not  know  his  pedigree,  as  a scion  of  one  of  these  lost  branches 
and  a lineal  descendant  of  the  old  Virginia  Chappells. 

Just  before  the  American  Revolution  (about  1770)  there  im- 
migrated to  what  was  afterwards  Richland  district.  South  Caro- 
lina, a family  among  whom  were  two  sons  and  a daughter ; 


162 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


whose  names  were  Hix,  Laban  and  Martha.  The  father  of  these 
children  was  Robert  Chappell.  The  fact  that  he  came  from  the 
Colony  of  Virginia  is  well  authenticated  ; but  from  what  part  is 
unknown.  It  is  supposed  that  the  wife  and  mother  died  after 
their  arrival  at  their  Southern  home,  for  the  father  married  a sec- 
ond time,  and  by  his  last  wife  had  one  son,  named  John.  Hix, 
who  was  the  eldest,  was  at  this  time  about  twelve  years  old.  Robert 
Chappell  lived  to  a very  old  age,  and  was  for  many  years  before 
his  death  a bedridden  invalid.  While  in  this  condition,  he  was 
at  one  time  during  the  Revolution,  attacked  by  the  Tories  and 
shot  while  he  laid  in  bed,  through  an  aperture  in  his  house,  but 
was  not  killed. 

If  the  reader  will  now  go  back  with  me  to  Prince  George 
County,  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  where  the  Chappells  lived  from 
1710  to  1745,  he  will  there  find  in  the  old  parish  register  of  Bristol 
Parish — embracing  the  counties  of  Prince  George  and  Dinwiddie 
— the  following  entries  of  births  : 

“Ann,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Chappell,  was  born 
Feby.  8,  1721.” 

“Absalom,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Chappell,  was  born 
May  6,  1729.” 

“Robert,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Chappell,  was  born 
April  2,  1732.”* 

Mary  was  probably  the  first  wife  of  Robert  Sr.,  and  Elizabeth 
the  second. 

Here  is  the  supposed  connection  between  this  South  Carolina 
branch  and  the  Chappells  of  Virginia.  By  examining  these  dates 
it  will  be  seen  that  Robert  Jr.  would  have  been  twenty- five 
years  old  in  1757,  and  probably  married  about  that  time,  and  his 
son  Hix  may  have  been  just  twelve  years  old  when  his  father  emi- 
grated to  South  Carolina  in  1770,  his  father  at  that  time  being 
thirty-eight  years  old.  The  age  of  Hix  is  well  established,  for,  as 
will  appear  hereafter,  he  enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  army  in 
1776,  and  was  then]  eighteen  years  old.  From  these  dates, 
taken  from  the  records  of  Virginia,  and  therefore  authentic,  and 
from  the  age  of  Hix  Chappell  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment,  of 
which  there  is  no  question,  there  would  seem  to  be  but  little  doubt 


* See  Chapter  II. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


163 


that  the  Robert  Chappell  who  immigrated  to  South  Carolina  in 
1770  was  the  same  Robert  whose  name  was  found  in  the  parish 
register  of  Bristol  Parish,  Virginia,  and  who  was  born  April  2, 
1732.  The  dates,  it  will  be  observed,  correspond  with  an  exact- 
ness that  leaves  little  room  for  doubt. 

The  genealogy  of  this  branch  back  to  1635  can  then  be 
traced.  Robert,  of  Prince  George,  whose  son  Robert  emigrated 
to  South  Carolina,  was  probably  the  brother  of  Thomas  and  Sam- 
uel, whose  histories  have  been  written  in  Chapter  II,  and  that  of 
their  descendants  in  subsequent  chapters.  These  brothers  were  of 
the  fifth  generation  in  America,  reckoning  Capt.  John  Chappell  as 
the  first  immigrant  and  of  the  first  generation.  They  were  the 
sons  of  Thomas  of  Charles  City  county  (1680-1720).  Thomas, 
it  is  believed,  was  the  son  of  Samuel  (brother  of  Thomas  and  Rob- 
ert) 1663-1665,  and  this  Samuel  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  the  young 
immigrant,  (1635),  who  is  further  believed  to  have  been  the  son 
of  Capt.  John  Chappell,  who  sailed  from  Southampton,  England, 
for  the  colony  of  Virginia,  May  28,  1635. 

HIX  CHAPPELL. 

Maj.  Hix  Chappell* — for  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution- 
ary army,  and  well  earned  his  title — was  born,  as  has  been  stated, 
in  the  colony  of  Virginia,  about  1758,  immigrated  to  South  Car- 
olina with  his  father  in  1770,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olution, volunteered  as  a private  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  the  di- 
vision of  tdie  army  commanded  by  General  Sumter,  and  continued 
with  that  officer  and  General  Marion,  both  of  whom  operated  in  the 
South,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  nearly  all 
the  engagements  fought  by  these  daring  leaders  in  that  section, 
and  was  present  and  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  S.  C.  (Sept.  8,  1781) — the  last  battle  before  the  surrender 
of  Yorktown.  We  have  no  written  account  of  his  military  career; 
that  he  was  a brave  and  gallant  soldier  is  established  by  his  rapid 
promotion.  He  entered  the  army  a youth  and  a private — he  came 
out  a veteran  soldier,  bearing  a major’s  commission,  and  was  grant- 
ed a pension  by  the  United  States  government. 


*The  name  Hix  is  a well-known  old  Virginia  family  name. 


164 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


On  one  occasion,  during  the  war,  he  was  sent  with  his  com- 
mand to  capture  an  ammunition  train  belonging  to  the  enemy,  and 
which  it  was  proposed  to  ambush.  The  enemy  w^ere  surprised  and 
captured  and  Major  Chappell  called  on  the  officer  in  command, 
who  was  almost  a youth,  to  surrender  his  sword.  The  demand 
was  reluctantly  complied  with  and  the  young  man,  when  he  had 
delivered  it  up,  burst  into  tears.  Major  Chappell  was  so  impressed 
with  the  young  officer’s  bravery  and  loyalty  to  his  King  that  he 
returned  him  the  sword,  having  first  exacted  a promise  that  it 
should  never  again  be  drawn  against  the  Colonies.  What  was  his 
surprise  on  inquiring  the  youth’s  name  to  find  it  was  “Campbell,” 
and  that  he  was  no  less  a personage  than  the  Duke  of  Argyle.  The 
strangest  part  of  this  story  is  yet  to  be  told.  Many  years  after 
the  war  a younger  son  of  this  same  British  officer  and  Col.  John 
Joel  Chappell,  a son  of  Major  Hix  Chappell,  bought  adjoining 
plantations  in  Lowndes  county,  Ala.,  where  they  continued  to 
live,  and  were  intimate  friends,  until  separated  by  death. 

In  1781  Maj.  Chappell  married  Elizabeth  Threemets  and 
settled  on  a plantation  in  Richland  county,  near  Columbia,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  86.  This  home  is 
now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Paul  G.  Chappell,  and  has  been  in 
the  family  for  114  years — 1781-1895.  The  remains  of  Maj.  Hix 
Chappell  are  interred  in  Columbia,  S.  C.,  on  Plains  street.  He 
left  two  sons. 

JOHN  JOEL  CHAPPELL. 

Col.  John  J.  Chappell  was  the  oldest  son  of  Hix  Chappell,  and 
was  born  in  Fairfield  county  on  January  19,  1782,  where  his 
mother  had  gone  on  a visit.  On  May  10,  1811,  he  married  Sophia 
Maria  Green,  the  daughter  of  Col.  Green,  an  officer  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Col.  Chappell  became  a distinguished  citizen  of  his  native 
state — distinguished  as  a lawyer,  a statesman  and  a soldier.  He 
represented  his  district  for  many  years  in  Congress,  in  the  days  of 
John  C.  Calhoun,  of  whom  he  was  an  intimate  friend  and  great 
admirer.  In  the  war  of  1812,  with  Great  Britain,  he  commanded 
a regiment  raised  in  his  section.  He  practiced  his  profession 
in  Columbia  until  1837,  when  he  bought  a plantation  in  Lowndes 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


165 


county,  Ala.,  where  he  spent  a part  of  his  time,  and  to  which  he 
finally  removed.  He  died  in  Alabama  in  1871,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  89  years.  His  wife  died  in  September,  1834. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  a biography  of  Col. 
Chappell,  published  in  “O’Neal’s  Bench  and  Bar  of  South  Car- 
olina “Col.  John  J.  Chappell  was  an  educated  and  scholarly 
man  for  the  times  in  which  he  lived.  He  was  a successful  lawyer, 
a man  of  strong  character,  and  a kind  and  courteous  gentleman. 
He  had  an  easy  flow  of  language,  though  not  an  impressive  elo- 
quence. He  was  tall  and  spare,  being  fully  six  feet  in  stature.  He 
was  dignified,  yet  polite,  and  was  always  regarded  as  an  honest 
man.”  He  held  the  following  official  positions  ; “He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1805.  The  same  year  was  appointed  Adjutant  of  the 
Thirty-third  regiment,  and  was  elected  Captain  of  the  same  regi- 
ment. In  1808  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  was  also 
elected  a member  of  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina.  In  1809 
was  appointed  a trustee  of  S.  C.  College.  In  1812  was  elected  to 
Congress,  and  was  re-elected  for  five  terms.” 

“His  life  was  gentle  : and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  This  is  a man.” 

There  were  born  to  John  Joel  Chappell  the  following  chil- 
dren, living  to  maturity  : 

1.  Eugenia,  b.  October  29, 1812,  m.  Andrew  C.  Calhoun,  son 
of  John  C.  Calhoun,  on  January  3,  1833.  But  one  child  was  born 
of  the  union,  Eugene  Chappell  Calhoun,  b.  December  22,  1833,  d. 
January  1,  1835.  The  mother  died  February  8,  1839. 

2.  John  Threemets,  b.  March  13,  1815,  d.  May  13,  1840.  He 
was  by  profession  a lawyer  and  was  his  father’s  partner. 

3.  Mary,  b.  November  1,  1819,  d.  November  1,  1869.  Unm. 

4.  Paul  Green,  b.  May  17,  1821,  m.  Salina  G.  De  Veaux 
April  22,  1852.  No  issue.  He  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  his 
parents. 

5.  Octavia  Theodosia,  b.  April  6,  1829,  m.  John  D.  Hopkins 
November  12,  1850.  Issue  : 

I.  J.  Chappell,  m.  Emma  McGee.  Issue:  John,  James, 
Henry,  Gather,  Edward  and  Bessie. 


166 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


II.  Fanny,  m.  James  H.  Adams.  Issue  : Jane,  Paul, 
Fanny  and  William.  She  died  May  25,  1894. 

III.  Marion  Chappell,  m.  E.  L.  Felder.  Issue  ; Lewis, 

James,  Paul,  Louise,  Eliza,  Blake  and  Elwyn.  All 
of  these  live  in  Alabama. 

IV.  James  Tucker,  unm.  Lives  in  Alabama. 

6.  Marion,  b.  February  10,  1825,  m.  Robt.  H.  Deas  May  1, 
1849.  Issue  ; One  son,  John  C.  Deas,  m.  Maria  P.  Smith.  Issue  : 
Mary,  Maria,  Eugenia  and  John. 

7.  Henry,  b.  July  4,  1826.  Was  a physician,  m.  Cynthia  E. 
Wells  December  15,  1853.  No  issue.  Died  February  14,  1854, 
in  Mississippi. 

8.  Septina,  b.  March  3,  1828,  d.  unm.  May  25,  1894.  Was 
buried  with  her  niece,  Fanny  Adams. 

JAMES  HENRY  CHAPPELL. 

James  Henry  was  the  second  son  of  Maj.  Hix  Chappell,  m. 
Margaret  Goodwyn.  Issue  living  to  maturity  : 

1.  William  Hix,  m.  (2) — (1) Carloss,  of  Alabama.  Issue; 

I.  Sue,  m.  (2) — (1)  Dr.  Reece  ; (2)  John  Yates.  Issue  ; 

One  son,  David  Yates. 

II.  Henry,  was  an  officer  in  the  C.  S.  army.  Fell  mortally 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.  Was 
promoted  for  gallantry  on  the  battle-field  when  dying. 

III.  Elizabeth,  m.  Henry  Pargette. 

William  Hix  Chappell’s  second  wife  was  Mary  Johns.  Issue  ; 
Margaret,  Mary,  Laura  and  Thomas. 

2.  Eliza,  unm. 

3.  Margaret  Goodwyn,  m.  Maj.  Jesse  G.  Lykes,  being  his 

first  wife.  Issue  : One  child. 

Margaret,  m.  Andrew  Patterson.  Issue  : Margaret,  Carrie, 
Andrew,  James,  Jesse,  Wilhelmira,  Ernest  and  Frank. 

4.  James  Henry,  Jr.,  m.  Elizabeth  Butler.  Is«ue  ; 

I.  Francis  Marion,  m.  Llewella  Roberts.  Issue  ; One 
son,  Francis  Marion,  Jr.,  who  lives  in  Florida. 

II.  Jessie  Chappell,  m.  Chas.  T.  Smith.  Issue  ; Laura, 
Charles,  Elizabeth  and  Septina.  Live  at  Hopkins, 

S.  C. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHEE  KIXDEED  FAMILIES. 


167 


The  data  relating  to  the  descendants  of  John  Joel  and  James 
Henry  Chappell  has  been  furnished  by  Paul  G.  Chappell  and  Mrs. 
Jessie  C.  Smith.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  family  Bible,  con- 
taining the  records  of  the  latter  branch  has  been  lost,  and,  there- 
fore, the  dates  cannot  be  giyen. 

LABAN  CHAPPELL. 

Laban,  the  second  son  of  Robert  Chappell,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia about  1762,  and  emigrated  to  Richland  District,  S.  C., 
with  his  father  about  1770.  He  enlisted  as  a priyate  in  the  Reyo- 
lutionary  army  under  Gen.  Sumter,  in  1779,  near  the  close  of  the 
war,  at  the  age  of  17,  and  seryed  until  the  declaration  of  peace. 

In  1789  he  married  Margaret  Adams,  a widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Spigena,  and  located  in  Richland  county,  where  he 
remained  until  1817,  when  he  remoyed  to  Fairfield.  He  died  in 
that  county  in  1829,  at  the  age  of  67,  leaying  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  who  will  be  named  in  the  order  of  their  births  ; 

1.  Christiana  Chappell,  b.  1790,  m.  Maj.  Nathan  Cook, 
1826,  d.  1867.  No  issue. 

2.  John  S.  Chappell,  b.  1794,  m.  Grace  Goodwyn.  Remoyed 
to  Fairfield,  1852,  where  he  died  in  1853.  Issue  : 

I.  Laban  H. , killed  in  C.  S.  army  in  the  battles  around 

Richmond,  1863. 

II.  Rebecca,  m.  Jacob  Bookman.  Their  issue  live  in 

Fairfield  county. 

III.  Mary  Hix,  m.  Dr.  J.  T.  Smith.  No  issue. 

IV.  Christiana,  m.  Abner  Turnipseed.  They  live  in 

Geneya,  Ala. 

V.  Uriah.  History  unknown  to  me. 

VI.  Martha,  m.  E.  R.  Paulding.  Liye  in  Orangeburg. 

3.  Mary  Chappell,  b.  1798,  m.  Zachariah  Trapp  January  8, 
1818,  died  1875.  Issue  : 

I.  Chappell,  b.  1818,  m.  Adelaid  Powell,  1853,  d.  1889. 

II.  William  H.,  b.  1820,  m.  Sarah  Dawkens,  1846. 

III.  Laban,  b.  1822,  m.  (2) — (1)  Mary  Boukright ; (2) 

Cynthia  Powell  ; d.  1871. 

IV.  Caroline,  b.  1826,  m.  Jesse  G.  Lykes,  1848.  She  was 

his  second  wife. 


168 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


V.  Uriah,  b.  1828,  m.  Victoria  Bookman,  1855. 

VI.  Mary,  d.  unm. 

VII.  Levi,  d.  unm. 

All  of  the  above  are  dead  except  William,  Uriah  and 
Caroline. 

4.  Laban  Henry  Chappell,  b.  1800,  m.  Martha  F.  Love  (his 
cousin),  1827,  d.  January  30,  1870,  in  Fairfield.  Issue  : 

I.  William  L.,  b.  May  24,  1828,  m.  Mary  Thompson, 
1854.  Removed  to  Choctaw  county,  Ala.,  and  died 
there  in  1876.  Issue  : Henry,  Franklin,  Emma,  Ida, 
Fanny  and  Margaret. 

II.  Henry  H.,  b.  1830.  Was  an  officer  in  the  C.  S.  army 
and  died  in  the  service. 

HI.  Martha,  b.  1830,  m.  Capt.  P.  R.  Mayo,  1869. 

IV.  Thompson,  b.  1832,  m.  Mary  Douglass  in  1858,  d. 
1884.  Issue:  Charles,  Martha,  Sarah,  Mary,  Nancy 
and  Lois. 

V.  George  S.,  b.  May  1,  1834,  m.  Rebecca  Cook.  Issue  : 
Henry,  Mary,  Marion,  Fanny,  Angus,  Caroline  and 
George.  Live  in  Columbia. 

VI.  Joel,  b.  November  26,  1835.  Killed  in  C.  S.  army  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

VII.  Mary  A.,  b.  1838.  Lives  in  Fairfield. 

VIII.  David,  b.  February  19,  1845.  Killed  in  the  C.  S. 
army  in  battles  around  Richmond. 

IX.  Sarah  C.,  b.  1848.  Lives  in  Jenkinsville. 

MARTHA  CHAPPELL. 

Martha,  the  daughter  of  Robert  Chappell,  and  sister  of  Hix 
and  Laban,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  removed  to  South  Carolina 
with  the  family  about  1770.  About  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  she  married  Isaac  Love,  and  there  were  born  of  the 
union  four  sons,  whose  names  were  William,  Chappell,  David  and 
Robert.  William  was  the  eldest  and  married  and  had  children, 
among  whom  was  a daughter  named  Martha,  who,  in  1827,  mar- 
ried her  cousin,  Labin  Henry  Chappell,  son  of  Labin.  She  evi- 
dently loved  the  name  Chappell  better  than  she  did  that  of  Love 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KINDRED  EAMILIES.  169 

and  returned  to  her  first  love  and  has  perpetuated  the  name  Chappell 
in  her  line,  to  the  present  generation.  There  are  probably  other 
descendants  of  Martha  Chappell,  but  I have  received  no  informa- 
tion of  them. 

The  data  contained  in  this  sketch  of  Laban  Chappell  and  his 
descendants  has  been  furnished  by  Mrs.  Caroline  Lykes  and  George 
S.  Chappell,  of  Columbia,  and  Miss  Sallie  Chappell  of  Jenkins- 
ville,  S.  C.  All  of  whom  are  of  his  branch.  It  will  be  observed 
that  the  family  originally  lived  in  Richland  district,"  but  some  of 
them  subsequently  removed  to  Fairfield,  and  others  emigrated  to 
Alabama  and  Florida.  Xot  a few  of  the  present  generation  have 
engaged  in  commercial  pursuits,  and  are  now  among  the  most  en- 
terprising, energetic  and  successful  merchants  in  that  section  of 
the  country. 

JOHN  CHAPPELL. 

John  Chappell,  the  only  child  of  Robert  Chappell  by 
his  second  marriage,  was  the  half  brother  of  Maj.  Hix 
and  Laban  Chappell  and  their  sister  Martha.  The  names  of 
neither  of  the  wives  of  Robert  Chappell  are  now  known.  John 
was  born  about  1771,  which  was  after  his  father’s  removal  to 
South  Carolina,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Richland  district.  At 
a later  day  he  removed  to  Lexington  district  and  there,  at  the 
age  of  1-5,  (about  1816)  married  Sibillaf  Scott,  a widow,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ruff.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Fairfield 
and  settled  near  the  confluence  of  Broad  and  Little  rivers,  where  he 
was  for  many  years  engaged  in  farming,  milling  and  managing  a 
shad  fishery — then  a profitable  business.  He  died  in  1835,  at  the 
age  of  65,  and  his  wife  died  several  years  afterwards.  There  were 
born  to  this  couple  six  children,  whose  births  were  in  the  order  in 
which  they  will  be  named  : 

1.  Charlotte  E.,  b.  June  17,  1817,  m.  Capt.  Xathaniel  B. 
Holley,  1835.  Issue  living  to  maturity  : Butler,  Mary,  Nathaniel, 
David,  Walter,  John  and  Alexander.  The  two  latter  died  in  the 
C.  S.  army,  Alexander  having  been  killed  at  the  battle  of  Seven 
Pines.  The  mother  of  this  family  still  lives  in  Fairfield  county, 
S.  C.,  at  the  age  of  78. 

* The  counties  in  South  Carolina  were  originally  called  districts, 
t The  name  may  have  been  Sibyl. 

12- 


170 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


2.  John  H.  R.,  b.  1819.  Emigrated  to  Pickens  county,  Ala., 
in  1837,  m.  Margaret  A.  Lipsey,  1848,  d.  1881.  Issue:  Mary, 
Laban,  William,  John,  Charles  and  Margaret.  Of  these  Laban  is 
a minister  of  the  M.  E.  church.  South,  and  lives  at  Milton,  Fla. 
William  resides  near  Birmingham,  Ala.  Mary  (now  Mrs.  Cole) 
lives  in  Selma,  and  the  others  reside  in  Pickens  county,  Ala.  The 
father  of  this  family  was  a devout  Christian  and  a minister  of  the 
M.  E.  church.  South. 

3.  Laban  C.,  b.  1822,  m.  Catharine  Smith  and  settled  in 
Fairfield  county,  where  he  died  in  1888.  Issue  : Oscar,  Smith, 
John,  George,  Kate,  Laban,  William  and  Clara.  Some  of  these 
live  in  South  Carolina  and  others  in  Florida.  Of  those  living  in 
the  former  state  is  Laban  C.,  Jr.,  at  Hopkins,  whose  wife,  Mrs. 
Maxcy  C.  Chappell,  an  intelligent  lady,  has  furnished  me  some  of 
the  above  data. 

4.  Nancy,  b.  1824,  m.  J.  II.  Robb.  Issue:  Charlotte,  Mary, 
Ida,  John  Chappell,  Willoughby,  Thomas,  Robert,  Elizabeth  and 
Augustus.  Of  these  Robert  became  a distinguished  minister  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  resides  in  New  York.  John  Chappell 
lives  in  Florida  and  the  others  in  Fairfield  county,  S.  C. 

5.  Rebecca,  b.  January  4,  1827,  m.  Bennett  C.  Proctor  and 

removed  to  Atalla  county.  Miss.,  where  she  and  her  children 
live.  Issue : Nannie,  m.  C.  J.  Winters ; Sanilah,  m.  Henry 

Landrum ; Rebecca,  m.  T.  J.  Harris  ; Mary,  m.  L.  C.  Boyd  ; 
Susan,  m.  J.  D.  Atterberry,  and  Bennie,  the  youngest  daughter, 
m.  G.  W.  Winters. 

6.  Hix  Benjamin,  b.  Aug.  18,  1831,  in  Fairfield,  emigrated  to 

Pickens  county,  Ala.,  in  1851,  m.  (2) — (1)  Sarah  F.  Taylor.  Issue  : 
Hix  B.,  William,  a daughter  named  Willie  A.,  and  one  named 
Henrietta  Louisa,  the  latter  died  Oct.  7,  1883.  In  1874  he  mar- 
ried Sallie  E.  Feemster.  Issue  : James,  Anna,  Jennie,  Robert, 

Edward,  Curtis,  and  Lilly.  Rev.  Hix  B.  Chappell,  for  he  is  a 
minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  is  a man  of  far  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence,  of  positive  convictions,  and  of  strong  individuality. 
He  was  one  of  the  few  members  of  the  family  in  the  South  who 
opposed  secession,  but  when  the  “die  was  cast,”  he  entered  hear- 
tily into  the  conflict,  was  a soldier  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, and  fought  gallantly  to  the  last.  He  has  furnished  me 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHEE  KIKDPED  EAMILIES. 


171 


most  of  the  information  contained  in  this  sketch  of  his  father’s 
branch.  His  home  is  in  Dillsburgh,  Pickens  Co.,  Ala.  It  will  be 
observed  that  no  less  than  four  members  of  this  branch  have  been, 
and  are,  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  A fact  which  speaks  well  for 
their  religious  training,  and  for  their  high  moral,  social  and  intel- 
lectual character. 

A well-authenticated  tradition  has  come  to  me  from  the  Xorth 
Carolina  Chappells.  It  is  to  the  effect  that  Samuel  Chappell, 
the  old  Hevolutionary  soldier,  when  in  the  Southern  campaign, 
under  the  command  of  General  Greene,  just  before  the  close  of 
the  war,  met  in  the  army  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  S. 
C.,  a soldier  from  that  state  named  Chappell,  but  whose 
given  name  is  not  now  remembered.  Thev  traced  a relation- 
ship,  for  the  South  Carolina  Chappell,  like  his  namesake, 
had  been  born  in  Virginia.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Hix  and 
Laban  Chappell  were  both  in  Greene’s  army  at  that  time,  and  as 
the  entire  command  only  consisted  of  about  2,000  men,  the  tradi- 
tion is  probably  true  and  the  South  Carolinan  was  either  Hix 
Chappell  or  his  brother  Laban. 

About  the  year  1810,  Edward,  the  son  of  the  same  Samuel 
Chappell,  visited  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  was  absent 
several  months.  While  on  this  trip  he  met  in  one  of  those  states 
a relative  named  Chappell,  with  whom  he  traced  a relationship, 
and  with  whom  he  remained  several  days.  His  given  name  is  not 
now  remembered;  but  his  family,  it  was  said,  had  removed  from 
Virginia  many  years  before. 

Haj.  J.  Chappell  Compton,  of  Selma,  Ala.,  also  writes  me  as 
follows  : ‘Oly  father.  Pleasant  M.  Compton,  was  well  accjuainted 

with  Hon.  Absalom  H.  Chappell,  of  Georgia.  They  discussed  and 
fully  recognized  the  relationship  that  existed  between  their 
families.” 

These  old  people  have  long  since  passed  away  and  I only  refer 
to  these  traditions  to  illustrate  the  fact  that  those  of  a former  gen- 
eration could  more  easily  trace  the  relationship  between  the 
branches  than  those  of  the  present.  Eurthermore,  while  these 
traditions  may  not  be  entirely  reliable,  they  furnish  corroborative 
evidence  to  that  found  in  the  records  of  Virginia,  to  establish  the 


172 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


fact  that  the  Southern  branches  of  the  Chappell  family  are  the 
lineal  descendants  of  those  of  the  same  name  who  settled  at  an  early 
day  in  the  colony  of  Virginia. 


THOMAS  CHAPPELL,  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

There  is  still  another  branch  of  the  Chappell  family  in  South 
Carolina,  which,  while  not  descended  from  Robert  Chappell,  the 
immigrant  of  1770,  is  nevertheless  beyond  a doubt  connected  with 
the  Virginia  family  of  that  name.  About  1750  there  immigrated  to 
South  Carolina  from  the  colony  of  Virginia,  one  Thomas  Chappell, 
who  settled  on  the  south  side  of  the  Saluda  river,  about  one  mile 
from  where  the  town  of  Chappell*  is  now  located,  and  in  what  is 
now  Edgefield  county.  Here  he  improved  a plantation,  on  which 
he  continued  to  live  until  his  death,  and  which  remained  in 
the  family  for  several  generations.  He  was  a young  man  when 
he  removed  to  his  Southern  home,  but  whether  he  was  married  at 
that  time  or  not  is  not  now  known,  even  by  tradition.  Neither  is 
the  name  of  his  wife  now  remembered.  Thomas  had  three  sons, 
whose  names  were  John,  James  and  Harry,  all  of  whom  were  born 
between  1750  and  1760.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war  each  of  these  sons  enlisted  in  the  Continental  army  and 
participated  in  the  partisan  warfare  that  was  so  hotly  waged  by 
Sumter  and  Marion,  in  the  South  Carolina  colony.  John  and 
James  were  both  killed  in  the  army  and  only  the  youngest  son  — 
Harry — escaped  the  British  bullets.  This  is  all  that  is  known  of 
Thomas  Chappell,  or  his  sons,  previous  to  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, even  from  tradition. 

The  second  chapter  of  this  history  contains  all  the  informa- 
tion that  has  been  gleaned  from  the  fragments  of  records  preserved 
of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  relating  to  the  Chappell  family.  From 
1720  to  1746  several  of  the  family  lived  in  Prince  George  county, 
Virginia,  and  among  others,  Thomas,  Samuel  and  Robert,  the  three 
brothers  from  whom  the  branches  herein  referred  to  can  trace 
their  descent.  Thomas  of  South  Carolina  was  not  a descendant  of 
this  Thomas  of  Prince  Goorge,  for  we  have  the  will  of  his  widow 


This  town  was  named  for  the  family. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KIXDEED  FAMILIES. 


173 


— Sarah  Crawley — in  which  the  names  of  their  children  are  given. 
He  was  not  the  son  of  Samuel,  for  his  children — John,  Joseph,  and 
their  sister — were  quite  young  in  1750.  Neither  was  he  the  son 
of  Robert,  for  the  old  register  of  Bristol  parish  gives  the  names  of 
his  sons,  who  were  Absalom  and  Robert,  Jr.  There  were, 
however,  as  has  been  shown  in  that  chapter  at  this  period,  several 
other  branches  of  the  family  in  the  colony,  of  which  we  now  have 
no  account,  and  to  one  of  these  Thomas  Chappell,  the  founder  of 
this  South  Carolina  family,  must  have  belonged.  He  no  doubt 
was  of  the  sixth  generation,  the  same  to  which  Mrs.  Crawley’s 
sons,  and  John  and  Joseph,  the  sons  of  Samuel,  belonged  ; for 
they  were  all  born  from  about  1720  to  1740,  as  nearly  as  can  now 
be  determined. 

We  find  in  this  South  Carolina  branch  the  same  favorite  fam- 
ily names  that  have  come  down  to  us  through  ten  generations — 
Thomas,  John  and  James.  It  is  a strange  coincidence  that  the  two 
Thomas  Chappells — the  one  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  the  other  the  foun- 
der of  the  South  Carolina  branch,  living  at  the  same  time — should 
have  each  bestowed  on  his  sons  the  same  names — John  and  James. 
It  may,  however,  not  have  been  an  accidental  coincidence,  for  the 
fathers  may  have  been  closely  related,  and  may,  in  naming  their 
sons,  have  but  followed  the  prevailing  custom  in  the  family,  and 
perpetuated  in  them  the  names  of  favorite  ancestors. 

COL.  HARRY  CHAPPELL. 

Harry  Chappell,  who  bore  the  military  title  of  Colonel,  was 
the  only  surviving  son  of  his  father  and  inherited  from  him  a large 
estate,  including  the  plantation  in  Edgefield  county,  on  which  he 
continued  to  live  until  his  death.  It  is  not  now  known  whether 
he  acquired  his  title  in  the  army,  or  whether  it  was  bestowed  on 
him  by  his  friends,  as  was  frequently  the  case  in  the  South.  About 
the  year  1784  he  married  Delilah  Hozeh,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children,  all  of  whom  were  born  between  1785  and  1791.  Their 
names  were  Charles,  John,  Fanny  and  Lucinda 

Fanny  married  James  Hill,  and  about  1820  they  emigrated  to 
the  West,  and  all  trace  of  them  has  been  lost.  Lucinda  married 
Each  Payne,  of  Laurens  Co.,  and  died  in  1860  without  issue. 


174 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHARLES  CHAPPELL. 

Charles  married  Mary  Brooks,  about  1810.  Issue  : William 

and  Sarah. 

1.  William  b.  1812,  m.  Moss,  1850.  Issue  : One  child 

— Mary,  m.  John  Hudgens.  Issue,  but  names  are  unknown. 
William  Chappell  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  82  years. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  1815,  m.  Benjamin  Perry,  1835.  Issue  : Benja- 
min, Towles,  Robert  and  Carrie.  All  of  the  sons  married, 
have  families,  live  in  Edgefield,  and  are  well-to-do  people. 
Carrie  m.  Charles  Hamilton,  they  removed  to  Kentucky  in  1870^ 
and  have  one  daughter  named  Carrie. 


JOHN  CHAPPELL. 

John  Chappell,  son  of  Col.  Harry  Chappell,  married  Betsy 
Brooks,  in  1816.  They  lived  in  Edgefield  Co.,  and  had  the  follow- 
ing issue. 

1.  Thomas  Henry,  b.  1818,  m.  Ann  Smiley,  1848,  d.  1874. 

Issue  : Two  sons  and  a daughter. 

I.  Preston  Brooks,  b.  1850,  m.  Martha  Leak,  1875,  d. 
1893.  No  issue. 

II.  John  Henry,  b.  1853,  m.  Mary  Prince,  1884.  Issue  : 
Jesse,  Thomas  and  John. 

III.  Lula,  b.  1855,  m.  Dr.  James  W.  Tribble.  Issue:  Maud 
and  Massie. 

2.  Nancy,  b.  1820,  m.  (2) — (1)  Robt.  Maxwell,  1836.  Issue  : 

I.  John  Chappell,  b.  1837,  m.  (2) — (1)  Richardson, 

(2)  Sarah  Richardson.  No  issue  by  either  marriage. 
II.  Bettie,  b.  1840,  m.  James  Hunter.  Issue,  surviving  : 
Idalia  and  Nancy  Chappell,  m.  (2)  1841,  Col.  James 
Kennedy,  of  Abbeville  Co.  Issue  : Thomas. 

3.  Mary,  b.  1823,  m.  Allen  Vance,  d.  1879.  Issue  : 

I.  John,  b.  1843.  Lives  in  New  Orleans. 

II.  Mary,  b.  1850,  m.  Christian  Waller,  no  issue.  She, 
after  his  death,  married  John  Vance.  They  have  chil- 
dren, and  now  live  in  Shreveport,  La, 

4.  John  Wesley  Chappell,  b.  1824,  m.  Francis  Anderson, 
1853.  Issue  : 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


175 


I.  James,  b.  1858.  Lives  in  Alabama. 

II.  Daughter,  name  unknown,  d.  1887. 

John  Wesley  is  still  living  and  is  the  third  of  the  same  name 
in  the  Chappell  family.  There  is  a John  Wesley  Chappell 
in  the  North  Carolina  branch  and  also  one  in  the  Kentucky  branch, 
and,  a strange  coincidence  is  that  two  of  them  were  born  in  1824,. 
and  the  other  in  1822.  It  is  evident  that  the  good  old  name,  John 
Wesley,  is  well  represented  among  his  Methodist  followers. 

5.  James  Butler  Chappell,  b.  1829,  m.  (2) — (1)  Elizabeth 

Anderson  1858.  Issue  : Luella,  Millege  and  William  (2) 

Eliza  Tribble.  Issue  : Olna,  Ernest,  and  a daughter  whose  name 

is  unknown. 

6.  Stanmore  Brooks  Chappell,  b.  1831,  m.  Ellen  Chapman, 
1860,  d.  1867.  Issue  : 

I.  John  Watts,  b.  March  2,  1862,  m.  Clara  Blease,  1889. 

Issue  : Gledys,  b.  Sept.  10,  1893. 

II.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  29,  1863,  m.  Burr  B.  Kinard,  of  Nine- 

ty-Six, S.  C.  Issue  : John  and  Eleanor. 

III.  Sophia,  b.  March  15,  1865,  m.  B.  M.  Dinnis.  Issue  :: 

Jewell  and  Mary. 

John  Chappell,  the  father  of  this  branch,  died  in  1855,  and 
his  wife,  Betsy,  in  1870.  The  information  given  in  this  sketch  has 
been  furnished  by  Mr.  John  Watts  Chappell,  an  intelligent  and 
enterprising  young  merchant,  of  Newberry,  S.  C.,  and  most  of  the 
traditions  as  to  the  early  history  of  the  family  were  obtained  by 
him  from  William  (the  son  of  Charles  Chappell),  who  died  in 
1894,  and  who  was  the  great-grandson  of  Thomas,  the  immigrant 
from  the  colony  of  Virginia,  in  1750. 

In  many  respects  this  branch  of  the  Chappell  family  differs 
materially  from  any  other  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge.  They 
were,  perhaps  of  all  others,  the  wealthiest  before  the  crash  of  1865, 
which  leveled  all  fortunes  and  destroyed  all  values  in  the  South. 
It  is  evident  that  Thomas  Chappell,  the  immigrant,  did  not  make 
the  long  journey  to  South  Carolina  for  his  health.  He  must  have 
possessed  great  energy,  industry  and  good  judgment,  for  by  the 
close  of  the  Revolution  he  had  amassed  a fortune  in  lands  and  ne- 
groes. His  estate,  at  his  death,  was  devised  to  his  son  Harry,  his 
sole  heir  and  legatee,  and  increased  in  his  life-time,  and  so  was 


176  A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 

transmitted  to  bis  two  sons,  Charles  and  John,  who  also  seem  to 
have  inherited  the  business  qualities  as  well  as  the  fortune  of  their 
father  and  grandfather. 

The  family  seems  to  have  been  as  remarkable  for  their  intelli- 
gence as  for  their  kindness  of  heart  and  hospitality.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century  they  became,  by  the  marriage  of  the 
two  sons  of  Col.  Harry  Chappell  to  the  two  Brooks  sisters,  allied 
to  the  very  best  families  in  the  state — the  Butlers,  the  Brookses, 
and  the  Prestons.  All  of  these  are  historic  names  in  South  Car- 
olina and  represented  the  best  blood  of  that  section.  Judge  An- 
drew Pickens  Butler,  a U.  S.  Senator  from  South  Carolina  from 
1846  to  1857,  Preston  Brooks,  a member  of  Congress,  who  became 
involved  in  a personal  difficulty  with  Senator  Sumner,  just  prior  to 
the  beginning  of  the  late  Civil  War,  and  the  present  U.  S.  Senator — 
Hon.  M.  C.  Butler — are  all  representatives  of  these  noted  families, 
and  were,  by  blood  or  marriage,  related  to  this  South  Carolina 
family  of  Chappells. 

Physically,  the  members  of  the  family  have  been  above  me- 
dium size  and  stature.  They  have  generally  fair  complexions,  blue 
eyes  and  auburn  hair — in  some  cases  the  color  is  a decided  red.  As 
will  be  observed,  contrary  to  the  usual  rule  in  the  Chappell  family, 
this  branch  has  not  been  a prolific  one,  and  its  numbers  have  not 
increased  as  have  other  branches  ; nor  have  they  been  a migratory 
people,  for  with  few  exceptions  they  occupy  the  same  portion  of 
the  state — Edgefield  and  Newberry  counties* — in  which  their  an- 
cestor settled  five  generations  ago. 

The  Chappells  of  South  Carolina  were  a typical  Southern 
family  of  the  ante-helium  period,  and  possessed  the  impetuous  and 
fiery  natures,  as  well  as  the  generous,  brave  and  manly  traits  that 
have  ever  characterized  the  best  people  of  the  Palmetto  state. 
They  belonged  to  an  aristocracy  possessing  not  only  wealth,  but 
brains,  culture  and  courage,  and  above  all  else  they  have  cher- 
ished a just  pride  in  their  grand  old  state  that  has  never  faltered. 


* These  two  counties  are  separated  by  the  Saluda  river. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHEE  KIXDEED  FAMILIES. 


177 


CHAPTER  X. 


The  Gaelikgtoxs  of  South  Caeolixa — The  Pate  Family  of 

ViRGIXIA. 

THE  GARLINGTONS. 

The  Garlingtons  are  a South  Carolina  family,  although  many 
of  them  reside  now  in  other  Southern  and  Western  states.  The 
relationship  which  exists  between  them  and  the  Chappells  and 
other  families  descended  from  the  latter,  results  from  the  marriage 
of  Susannah,  the  eldest  daughter  of  John  and  Ailsie  Dickie,  to 
Edwin  Garlington,  which  occurred  in  Halifax  county,  Ya. , on 
November  13,  1774. 

The  first  American  ancestor  of  this  family  was  Christopher 
Garlington,  who  received  a grant  of  1,050  acres  of  land  on  Dennis 
creek,  Northumberland  county,  in  the  Colony  of  Yirginia,  on  June 
4,  1663 — the  same  year  in  which  the  first  grant  of  land  was  ob- 
tained by  Thomas  Chappell,  one  of  the  early  ancestors  of  the 
Chappell  family.  The  records  also  show  that  about  this  time 
(1668)  he  was  a vestryman  in  the  church  of  the  parish  in  which  he 
then  lived.  This  was  the  Established  Church  of  England,  the 
only  church  then  tolerated  in  the  Colony.  It  was  supported  by  a 
tax  levied  and  collected  from  the  people  without  regard  to  their 
religious  faith.  Each  county,  or  shire  as  they  were  then  called, 
(and  there  were  only  eight  of  them  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  they  were  all  in  the  tide-water  section)  was  divided 
into  parishes,  and  each  parish  was  in  charge  of  a minister,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  keep  a parish  register,  in  which  were  recorded  the 
births,  marriages  and  deaths  of  his  parishioners.  Many  of  these 
old  registers  are  yet  preserved,  and  from  them  have  been  obtained 
much  of  the  data  in  relation  to  the  early  histories  of  these  old 
families  in  the  Colony. 

There  is  a tradition  in  the  family  that  the  Garlingtons  are 
of  French  extraction,  but  for  the  same  reason  given  in  the  history 
of  the  Chappell  family,  I am  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  this  is  a 
mistake.  All  of  the  immigrants  to  the  Colony,  between  1607  and 


178 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


1685,  were  from  England,  and  the  few  French  Huguenots  who 
settled  in  Virginia  did  not  come  over  until  after  the  latter  date. 
Besides,  if  Christopher  Garlington  had  ever  been  a French  sub- 
ject, it  is  not  probable  he  would,  at  so  early  a date,  have  become  a 
vestryman  in  the  Church  of  England.  He  was  an  English  immi- 
grant beyond  a doubt. 

The  original  Christopher  Garlington  had  a son  named 
Christopher,  which,  by  the  way,  seems  to  have  been  the  favorite 
family  name.  This  son  married  Elizabeth  Conway,  the  second 
daughter  of  Col.  Edwin  Conway  of  Lancaster  county,  Va.,  on  May 
5,  1724,^  and  there  were  born  to  them  the  following  children  : 

1.  Christopher,  b.  in  Lancaster  county,  Va. , about  1744,  m. 
a Miss  Young  (1770).  After  his  father’s  death  he  loaded  his  house- 
hold effects  on  a sloop  at  the  mouth  of  James  River  and  sailed 
southward  along  the  Atlantic  coast  until  he  arrived  at  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  where  he  landed,  bought  land  and  established  a home. f He  re- 
mained here  until  1808,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  State  of  Mis- 
sissippi and  settled  in  Amite  county.  There  were  born  to 
Christopher  Garlington  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
sons  were  Dr.  James  Garlington,  Rev.  Benjamin  Garlington 
and  Christopher  Garlington.  The  daughters  (whose  names  are  not 
known)  married  James  Parsons,  Wm.  Pate  and  Winston  Clark. 
All  of  these  removed  to  Mississippi,  raised  large  families,  and 
lived  to  good  old  ages.  Their  descendants,  many  of  them,  yet 
live  in  that  state. 

Dr.  James  Garlington  m.  Sarah  Jones  and  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  removed  many  years  ago  to  Louisiana  and  are 
now  dead.  The  youngest,  M.  D.  Garlington,  a wealthy  merchant 
of  Dallas,  Texas,  died  recently  in  that  city,  leaving  a widow  and 
five  children  (1894). 

2.  Elizabeth,  m.  Rev.  James  Creswell.  They  had  three 
sons  and  a daughter,  whose  names  were  David,  Robert,  Elihu  and 
Elizabeth.  They  removed  from  Virginia  to  South  Carolina 
previous  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  Nothing  further  is  known  of 
them. 

3.  The  third  child  was  a daughter.  Her  name  has  been 

* There  is  probably  a mistake  in  this  date. 

t This  was  in  1775.  The  present  city  limits  of  the  City  of  Charleston  extend  over  this 

plantation. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KIXDRED  FAMILIES. 


179 


lost,  and  is  not  noTr  remembered.  She  married  a Mr.  Haak 
(spelled  also  Hax  in  an  old  manuscript);  they  had  one  daughter, 
who  married  a brother  of  President  James  Monroe.  Nothino; 
further  is  known  of  her. 

4.  Edwin  Conway  Garlington  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Va.,  March  5,  1746,  and  married  Susannah,  daughter  of  John 
Dickie,  Sr.,  in  Halifax  county,  Va. , Xovember  13,  1774.  She 
was  born  .January  12,  1755,  and  died  in  Halifax  county  December 
3,  1795.  John  Dickie,  her  father,  died  in  May,  1785,  and  Ailsie, 
his  wife,  in  1783."  Edwin  Garlington  had  a younger  brother 
named  Joseph,  who  died  in  Halifax  county,  unmarried.  The 
children  of  Edwin  and  Susannah  (Dickie)  Garlington  were  all 
born  in  Halifax  county,  Va.  About  1805  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Laurens  county,  S.  C.,  where  he  located  on  Saluda 
river  and  engaged  in  planting.  Here  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death  (1823).  Elizabeth  Conway,  mother  of  Edwin 
Garlington,  was  the  second  daughter  of  Col.  Edwin  Conway 
(born  1681,  died  October  3,  1763),  and  his  first  wife,  Ann  Ball, 
who  was  a daughter  of  Col.  Joseph  Ball,  by  his  first  wife, 
Elizabeth  ; and  who  was,  therefore,  a half  sister  to  “Mary,  mother 
of  Washino-toD,”  as  the  latter  was  a daughter  of  Col.  Ball  and  his 
second  wife,  Mary.  Edwin  Garlington’s  mother  and  George 
Washington,  then  had  in  the  person  of  Col.  Joseph  Ball,  a 
common  grandfather,  and  were,  therefore,  first  cousins.  The  will 
of  Col.  Edwin  Conway  bequeathed  “to  his  graiidson,  Edwin  Garl- 
ington. thirty  pounds.” 

Edwin  Garlington,  when  a voung  man,  taught  school  in  Hal- 
ifax  county,  and  was,  doubtless,  a well  educated  man  for  the 
times.  He  is  described  in  an  old  manuscript,  yet  preserved  in  the 
family,  as  being  “a  small^:)e«r^  man,  low  in  stature;”  the  word 
peart  meaning  quick  and  active.  Susannah  Dickie,  his  wife,  is 
described  in  the  same  manuscript  as  being  “full  in  person  with 
very  light  hair  and  blue  eyes,  of  Scotch  descent  ;”  what  we  would 
call  a blonde.  Edwin  Garlington  was  undoubtedly  a man  of 
prominence  and  wealth  before  he  left  Halifax  county  ; for  in  my 
researches  there  I frequently  came  across  his  name.  On  June  15, 
1780,  he  sold  to  Wm.  Traylor  for  £3,000,  current  money,  (about 

* See  Dickie  genealogy,  Chapter  IV. 


180 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


^15,000)  592  acres  of  land  on  Bartholomew  creek  ; Susannah,  his 
wife,  joined  in  the  deed.  In  1783  he  witnessed  a deed  made 
by  his  brother-in-law,  John  Chappell,  (my  grandfather)  to  Ralph 
Bradshaw.  By  the  will  of  his  brother-in-law,  William  Chappell, 
written  November  1,  1798,  his  brothers,  Robert  and  John,  and 
“friend  Edwin  Garlington”  were  appointed  executors  of  his 
estate  and  guardians  of  his  minor  children. 

We  learn  from  a reliable  tradition  that  Edwin  Garlington,  or 
“Neddie”  Garlington,  as  the  name  has  come  down  to  us  in  this  tra- 
dition, lived  on  the  north  side  of  Dan  river,  while  the  plantation 
of  his  brother-in-law,  John  Chappell,  was  on  the  south  side,  but 
not  far  distant.  All  of  these  old  people  lived  in  what  was  then 
called  and  is  yet  known  as  the  “Black  Walnut”  neighborhood. 

The  children  born  to  Edwin  and  Susannah  Garlington  were 
ten  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  lived  to  maturity  except 
the  youngest — a son  named  Absalom.  They  will  be  named  in  the 
the  order  of  their  births,  and  the  history  of  each,  as  far  as  known, 
will  be  given  : 

1.  Dickie,  b.  Aug.  27,  1775,  d.  in  Edgefield,  S.  C. 

2.  Conway,  b.  June  15,  1777,  d.  in  Lexington,  Ga. 

3.  Edwin,  b.  July  14,  1779.  Grew  to  manhood  and  enlisted 
as  a soldier  in  the  Creek  War  and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  the 
Horse  Shoe,  on  March  25,  1813. 

4.  William,  b.  Nov.  1,  1780,  died  in  Hartford,  Ga. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  25,  1782,  m.  Nancy  Hull  Crawley,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Hull  Crawley,  of  Halifax  Co.,  Va.*  In  1820  they  emi- 
grated to  Oglethorpe  Co.,  Ga.,  where  they  lived  out  their  days. 
There  are  two  of  their  children  now  living,  one  a daughter — 
Nancy — who  married  Mr.  Harvey,  the  other  T.  C.  Garlington,  of 
Lafayette,  Ala.  The  former  lives  in  Jasper  Co.,  Ga.  Mr.  Gar- 
lington is  now  an  old  man,  but  his  mind  is  unclouded  and  is  well 
stored  with  the  traditions  of  the  family,  many  of  which  he  has 
furnished  me. 

0.  John,  b.  Oct.  19,  1784,  m.  twice,  (1)  Rachael  Hunter, 
Nov.  20,  1810.  Issue : One  son.  Col.  Henry  W.  Garlington, 

who  d.  in  1893.  (2)  Susan  James,  June  3,  1830.  Issue  of  second 

marriage  : 

* See  history  of  the  Tennessee  branch. 


I 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FA:^IILIES. 


181 


I.  Susan  Jane,  m.  Col.  John  L.  Young.  They  live  in 
Union,  S.  C. 

II.  Creswell,  m.  Elizabeth  Fleming. 

III.  Benjamin  Conway.  Killed  in  C.  S.  Army. 

IV.  Stobo  Dickie,  d.  in  C.  S.  Army. 

V.  John,  killed  in  C.  S.  Army. 

VI.  Maria  Louise,  b.  Jan.  1,  1843,  m.  Col.  Richard  W. 
Simpson,  Feby  10,  1863. 

Col.  Simpson  was  a gallant  officer  in  the  Confederate  army, 
and  is  now  a leading  member  of  the  South  Carolina  bar.  They 
have  several  children  and  reside  at  Pendleton,  S.  C.  I have  had 
some  correspondence  with  Mrs.  Simpson,  and  recognize  in  her 
the  ideal  Southern  woman.  She  is  cultivated  and  refined  and  pos- 
sesses that  loyalty  to  her  family  and  its  traditions  that  has  ever 
characterized  the  noble  women  of  the  South.  I desire  to  thank 
her  for  valuable  data  which  she  has  furnished,  not  only  of  her  own 
family,  but  of  the  Dickies  and  South  Carolina  Chappells — infor- 
mation wffiich  could  have  been  obtained  from  no  other  source. 

John  Garlington — the  father  of  this  family — was  a business 
man  of  most  excellent  attainments  and  was  for  50  years  Clerk  of 
the  Laurens  County  Court.  He  was  executor  of  the  estate  of  his 
uncle,  John  Dickie,  Jr.,  who  died  in  Spartanburg  District,  in  1813, 
and  it  is  from  the  settlements  of  this  estate,  yet  preserved  by  Mrs. 
Simpson,  that  much  of  the  information  in  relation  to  the  Dickie 
family  has  been  obtained.  He  was  also  the  historian  of  his  family 
and  prepared  a manuscript  of  their  genealogy,  which  is  now  most 
valuable.  Some  of  the  information  contained  in  this  sketch  has 
been  taken  from  it.  This  old  document  is  now  in  the  hands  of 
Major  E.  A.  Garlington,  and  is  sacredly  preserved  by  him. 
John  Garlington  died  in  1865.  Most  of  his  sons  were  killed 
in  the  Confederate  army,  and  it  is  said  this  sad  bereavement  broke 
his  heart,  and  hastened  his  death.  It  is  also  said  that  half  the 
members  of  the  first  company  of  Confederate  volunteers  enlisted 
in  Laurens  County,  in  1861,  were  descendants  of  Susannah  Dickie. 

7.  Doctor,  b.  June  17,  1786.  Do  you  wonder  why  a child  was 
given  so  peculiar  a name?  He  was  the  seventh,  and  the  su- 
perstition of  the  times  was  that  if  the  seventh  child  Avas  a son,  he 


182 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


was  destined  to  become  a physician.  It  is  not  known  what  became 
of  him,  but  he  did  not  become  a physician. 

8.  James,  b.  Aug.  4,  1788,  m.  Miss  Colquett,  daughter  of 
John  T.  Colquett,  of  Halifax  Co.,  Va.,  who  had  married  Ailsie 
Dickie,  Jr.  It  is  said  that  the  late  JJ.  S.  Senator  Colquett,  of  Georgia, 
was. a descendant  of  the  same  family. 

9.  Nancy,  b.  July  10,  1790,  m.  William  Simpson.  Issue: 
Edwin,  John,  James,  William,  Henry,  Richard,  Joseph  and 
Martha.  Their  descendants  now  living,  reside  in  South  Carolina, 
at  least  so  far  as  is  known. 

10.  Christopher,  b.  May  30,  1792,  died  in  1864,  m.  Elizabeth 
Aycock.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Issue  : Albert  Cres- 
well,  Robert,  James,  Eliza,  Susan,  Ellen,  and  Mary.  All  of 
wTom  married  and  raised  families  of  children.  Albert  Creswell 
was  the  oldest  son,  and  was  born  June  9,  1822.  He  became 
a prominent  man  in  his  native  state — prominent  as  a lawyer, 
editor  and  politician.  He  took  up  arms  in  the  Civil  War 
of  1861  and  became  a distinguished  general  in  the  Confederate 
Army,  fighting  gallantly  until  the  end.  He  died  in  1885,  leaving 
seven  children,  one  of  whom  is  Major  Ernest  A.  Garlington,  of 
the  Seventh  Cavalry,  U.  S.  Army,  now  stationed  at  Ft.  Riley, 
Kas.  Maj.  Garlington  married  Anna  Buford,  a very  accomplished 
lady.  He  is  of  medium  size,  possesses  excellent  scientific  attain- 
ments— being  a graduate  of  West  Point — and  is  an  ideal  soldier.  He 
has  several  times  distinguished  himself  in  active  military  service. 
In  1883  he  was  sent  by  the  government  in  command  of  a relief 
expedition  to  the  Arctic  regions.  When  in  the  far  North  he  was 
shipwrecked,  his  vessel  having  been  crushed  by  the  icebergs.  He 
abandoned  the  ship  and  took  to  an  open  boat,  and  made  the 
Northern  coast  of  Greenland,  a distance  of  600  miles,  reaching 
land  in  six  weeks.  Nothing  but  the  fortunate  fact  that  it  was 
continuous  daylight — for  it  was  in  August,  and  the  duration  of  the 
day  is  six  months  in  that  latitude  at  that  season  of  the  year — en- 
abled them  ever  to  reach  land.  In  1890  Maj.  Garlington  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Wounded  Knee,  a desperately  fought 
engagement  with  the  Sioux  Indians,  in  Dakota.  He  was  severely 
wounded,  and  was  highly  complimented  for  his  gallantry. 

Some  months  since  I was  honoied  with  a visit  from  Major 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


183 


Garlington  and  his  wife.  I appreciated  the  visit  the  more  highly 
from  the  fact  that  he  is  the  only  representative  of  that  branch  of 
the  family  descended  from  Susannah  Dickie  whom  it  has  been  my 
pleasure  to  meet  or  know. 

James  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  Christopher  and  Elizabeth 
Garlington.  He  married  a Miss  Jones  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  1870. 
They  have  but  one  child  living — Miss  Hattie — an  accomplished 
and  refined  young  woman.  Three  of  the  daughters  are  living  : 
Mesdames  Ramey,  Hunt  and  Swain.  All  have  families  and  reside 
in  and  near  Rome,  Ga.  James  Garlington  also  resides  at  the 
same  place.  They  are  all  people  of  the  highest  social  position 
and  are  educated  and  refined. 

I desire  to  thank  Mrs.  R.  W.  Simpson,  Miss  Hattie  Garling- 
ton, Mr.  T.  C.  Garlington  and  Maj.  E.  A.  Garlington  for  their 
kind  assistance  in  preparing  this  sketch  of  the  Garlington  family, 
a family  allied  to  others  whose  histories  are  written  in  this  little 
volume  by  a common  ancestry,  and  in  whose  veins  still  flows  the 
blood  of  honest  old  John  Dickie,  and  of  his  daughter — the  bonnie 
Scotch  lass — Susannah,  who  married  Edwin  Garlington. 


THE  PATE  FAMILY. 

Like  other  old  Virginia  families  referred  to  in  this  history, 
the  Pates  seem  to  have  been  neighbors  and  friends  of  the  Chap- 
pells from  the  first  settlement  of  the  Colony.  They  were,  like  all 
the  first  settlers  of  Virginia,  doubtless  of  English  descent.  The 
first  record  we  have  of  them  is  found  in  the  land  books,  in  1663. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  on  September  16th  of  that  year  Thomas 
Chappell  patented  a tract  of  land  near  the  mouth  of  James  River. 
All  lands  were  then  described  by  the  surrounding  tracts,  and  this 
land  is  described  as  being  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  lands  of 
John  Pate.  There  is  but  little  doubt  that  this  John  Pate  was  the  an- 
cestor of  the  family  that  subsequently  removed  with  the  Chappells 
to  Amelia  and  thence  to  Halifax  county,  Va. 

The  next  we  know  of  the  Pates  was  in  Amelia.  On  the  25th 
day  of  May,  1756,  Diana,  daughter  of  Moses  Pate,  of  Amelia 
county,  married  William  Hudson,  of  Cumberland  county.  No 


184 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


doubt  a closer  examination  of  the  records  of  Amelia  county  would 
yield  additional  information  as  to  the  history  of  the  family  in  that 
county. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  (1785)  we  find  the 
Pates  in  Halifax  county,  along  with  other  old  families  mentioned 
in  these  pages.  There  were  two  brothers  at  this  time  in  Halifax, 
Mathew  and  Samuel  Pate  ; the  latter  became  a wealthy  old  bach- 
elor and  never  married.  There  was  also  then  living  in  Halifax 
county  one  Jeremiah  Pate,  but  whether  he  was  a brother  of 
Mathew  and  Samuel  is  not  now  known. 

I have  in  my  possession  an  old  legal  document,  which,  for 
its  antiquity,  is  interesting;  it  shows  that  our  ancestors  sometimes 
resorted  to  the  courts  to  settle  their  disputes,  as  at  the  present 
time.  This  old  paper  is  as  follows,  mrhatbn  et  literatim  : 

“Gents  : 

You  will  please  take  notice  that  I shall  proceed  to 
take  affidavits  at  the  house  of  John  Welsh,  in  Halifax  county,  on 
the  22d  of  february,  1790,  between  the  hours  of  12  and  six  o’clock, 
to  continue  from  day  to  day  at  the  same  hours,  until  all  are  taken, 
in  the  matter  now  Depending  and  undetermined  in  the  High 
Court  of  Chancery,  in  which  we  are  interested. 

Messrs.  John  Wingfield.  Yr.  Obt.  Servant. 

Isham  Walton.  Jeremiah  Pate. 

Mathew  Pate.  8 feby,  1790.” 

John  Christian. 

Mathew  Pate  had  two  sisters,  the  name  of  only  one  of  whom 
is  known.  Her  name  was  Mary.  She  married  a Mr.  Hobson,* 
and  Mathew  Pate  married  Drusilla  Hobson,  a sister  of  his  brother- 
in-law.  As  each  married  the  other’s  sister,  it  was  doubtless  a fair 
exchange,  and  Mary  became  “Hobson’s  choice.”  The  other  sister 
married  Nathaniel  Tinsley  of  Hanover  county,  Va.  It  was  a 
daughter  of  each  of  these  two  marriages — one  a Miss  Hobson, 
the  other  Susannah  Pate  Tinsley — who  became  the  first  and 
second  wives  of  Dickie  Chappell,  son  of  William,  of  the 
Tennessee  branch. f They  were  first  cousins  and  were  both  nieces, 
of  Mathew  Pate.  Mrs.  Sarah  Drusilla  Lenoir  and  Mrs.  Ann 


Hlis  name  is  believed  to  have  been  Henry  Hobson, 
t See  history  of  Tennessee  branch,  Chapter  VII. 


CHA.PPELL,  DICKIE  AXD  OTHER  KIKDEED  FAMILIES. 


185 


Drusilla  Bruce  are  each  grand- daughters  of  Mrs.  Drusilla  (Hobson) 
Pate,  and  derived  their  names  from  her.  Mathew  Pate  was  a 
wealthy  and  prominent  citizen  of  Halifax  county  in  his  day.  The 
old  plantation  on  which  he  lived  and  died  was  pointed  out  to  me 
on  my  recent  visit.  It  is  in  the  same  neighborhood  so  often 
referred  to,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county. 

The  children  of  Mathew  and  Drusilla  Pate  were  named  as 
follows  ; Mary,  or  Polly,  as  she  was  called  ; Susannah,  Samuel 
and  Thomas. 

Mary  was  born  December  7,  1798,  married  John  Chappell, 
my  father  (being  his  first  wife)  Xovember  10,  1814,  and  died  in 
Virginia  March  29,  1835.  A biographical  sketch  of  the  children 
of  this  marriage  is  given  in  the  history  of  the  Missouri  branch  of 
the  family,  Chapter  V. 

Susannah  married  Win.  Jordan,  who  was  the  brother  of 
Richard  Jordan,  the  first  husband  of  Martha  Watkins,  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  Watkins,  of  “Reedy  bottom,”  on  Dan  river.  Her 
second  husband  was  Thomas  P.  Adams,  who  is  mentioned  in  the 
Adams  family  history.  William  and  Rebecca  Jordan  of  Callaway 
county.  Mo.,  were  the  children  of  Richard  .Jordan.  Susannah  and 
William  Jordan  had  four  children,  named  Clement,  Mathew, 
Mary  and  Susannah  ; these  were  all  living  in  1828  ; they  are  all 
dead  now.  Nothing  is  known  by  me  of  their  descendants.  Many 
of  the  Jordans  and  Watkins  still  live  in  Halifax  county  and  the 
name  is  a prominent  one  in  and  around  South  Boston. 

Samuel  Pate,  Jr.,  or  “Young  Sam  Pate,”  as  he  was  called, 
married  Susan  Watkins.  There  were  born  to  them  the  following 
children,  whose  births  were  in  the  order  named  : 

1.  Milton,  d.  1886,  unm. 

2.  Mary  Rebecca,  m.  Maj.  James  M.  Chappell  (of  the  Amelia 
branch)  in  1833.  Emigrated  to  Alabama  and  died,  1866-1869. 

3.  Robert  W.,  m.  Laura  Christian  (1849). 

4.  Susan,  m.  Robt.  E.  Boyd. 

5.  Richard,  m.  Susan  Wooding. 

6.  Absalom,  d.  1852,  unm. 

7.  Mathew,  killed  in  C.  S.  army. 

8.  Martha,  m.  Geo.  W.  Bass  (1852). 

9.  Ann  D.,  m.  Robt.  S.  Bruce,  son  of  Edward  Bruce  (see 

13— 


186 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Chapter  V).  Samuel  Pate,  Jr.,  and  his  wife  both  died  in  1867 
and  all  of  their  children  are  dead  except  Mrs.  Bruce  and  Mrs.  Bass. 

Thomas,  son  of  Mathew  Pate,  m.  Standfield,  and  died 

leaving  three  daughters.  Of  these  Mary  m.  (2) — (1)  Yancy  Bailey; 
(2)  James  Holliway.  Sarah,  m.  Alex.  Watkins  January  20,  1831, 
and  Fanny,  the  youngest,  m.  William  Shaw.  They  emigrated  to 
Tennessee. 

Matthew  Pate  lived  to  a good  old  age  and  died  in  1828.  He 
left  a large  estate  in  lands  and  negroes.  I have  in  my  possession 
a copy  of  his  will,  now  an  old  document  yellow  with  age.  Among 
other  property  mentioned  in  it,  and  devised  to  his  children, 
were  two  plantations  lying  near  Dan  river,  one  called  the  “Buffalo 
Place,”  the  other  “The  Frog  Level  Plantation.”  Some  of  the  de- 
scendants of  the  old  negroes  named  in  this  will — of  the  fourth 
generation — live  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  They  have  long  since  taken 
the  name  “Chappell,”  and  seem  as  proud  of  it  as  their  white 
brethren. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIKDRED  EAMILIES. 


187 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE  ADAMS  FAMILY. 

The  history  of  this  old  and  honorable  family,  as  g-iyen  in  these 
pages,  has  been  obtained  chiedy  from  the  traditions  handed  down 
from  father  to  son.  The  name  ‘-Adams”  is  a common  one,  and  is 
found  all  over  the  civilized  world,  wherever  the  English  language 
is  spoken.  The  earliest  record  of  the  name  in  history  is  that  of 
John  Ap  Adams,  “who  came  out  of  the  Marches  of  W ales,”  in  1296. 
There  were  separate  and  distinct  families  of  that  name  in  the  col- 
ony of  Virginia  before  1650,  and  the  descendants  of  the  name,  in 
the  Old  Dominion  and  out  of  it,  are  sufficiently  numerous  to  sug- 
gest at  once,  and  with  certainty,  their  descent  from  the  husband 
of  Eve.  An  exhaustive  search  for  information  of  the  early  history 
of  the  family  was  made  of  the  records  of  Halifax  County,  Tir- 
ocinia, but  the  name  was  found  so  numerous  as  to  become  confusino- 
and  difficult  to  distinguish,  and  all  effort  to  trace  the  genealogy  by 
that  means  was  abandoned. 

There  are  yet  living,  far  apart,  two  honored  members  of  the 
family  ; one,  Maj.  John  B.  Adams,  of  Fulton,  Mo.,  the  other  Mr. 
John  H.  Adams,  of  Lamar  County,  Texas.  Each  of  these  has 
passed  his  “three  score  years  and  ten,”  and  it  is  from  them 
that  most  of  the  facts  written  here  have  been  obtained.  Both 
are  gentlemen  of  intelligence,  unclouded  minds  and  remark- 
able memories,  and  as  the  traditions  given  by  each,  without  consul- 
tation, agree  on  all  material  points,  they  may  be  accepted  as  true. 

The  Adams  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction,  and  the  first  Amer- 
ican ancestor  was  John  Adams,  who  came  from  Wales  to  this 
countrv  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  centurv — two  hundred 
years  ago — and  settled  either  in  Massachusetts  or  Maryland — tra- 
ditions differ  on  this  point.  John  Adams,  the  first,  had  three  sons, 
named  John,  Sylvester,  and  Philip.  From  the  oldest,  John,  we 
are  all  descended.  These  sons  removed  to  Virginia  before  the 
Revolution  : Philip  located  in  Fluvanna  County,  and  Sylvester  in 


188 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Pittsylvania ; the  former  never  married,  and  died  leaving 
no  descendants  ; the  latter  married  in  Pittsylvania  County,  but  the 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  is  unknown  ; they  had  one  child,  a daugh- 
ter, who  married  a Mr.  Wilson.  Nothing  further  is  known  of 
them. 

John ‘Adams  went  further  West,  and  located  in  Halifax  Co., 
about  the  time  of  the  organization  of  that  county  (1752),  where  he 
soon  afterward  married  Susan  Wood.  She  was  doubtless  a woman 
of  superior  intellect  and  possessed  many  virtues,  for  her  name  has 
been  remembered  for  a century  and  a half,  and  perpetuated  in  the^ 
family  in  every  succeeding  generation.  My  sister,  Mrs.  Fanny 
Wood  Smith,  bears  the  name  of  this  good  woman.  In  the 
records  of  Brunswick  county  was  found  a clew  that  may  refer  to 
our  ancestress,  or  may  not.  There  is  there  recorded  the ^ will  of 
one  Richard  Wood,  dated  April  24,  and  probated  Sept.  4.  1746> 
devising  his  estate — a large  one — to  his  wife,  Mary,  during  life, 
and  after  her  death  to  their  only  child,  Susan  Wood.  It  is  possi- 
ble this  Susan  Wood  became  the  wife  of  John  Adams,  as  Halifax 
County  was  formed  about  this  time  from  Lunenburg  and 
Brunswick  Counties,  so  that  at  the  time  he  settled  in  Halifax 
county  it  may  have  been  Brunswick. 

There  were  born  to  John  Adams  and  Susan  Wood  eight  child- 
ren, six  sons  and  two  daughters,  named  as  follows,  and  the  births 
of  the  sons,  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named  : William,  Syl- 

vester, Richard,  John,  Philip  and  Benjamin  ; the  two  daughters 
were  Susan  Wood  and  Elizabeth.  These  children  were  all  born 
between  1755  and  1781. 

The  Adams  family,  as  I have  known  them  in  Missouri  and 
Virginia,  possess  certain  family  characteristics  in  a marked  degree. 
Physically  they  are  a strong,  robust,  healthy  race  ; and  there  is  no 
hereditary  disease  or  taint  in  their  blood  ; they  have  fair  skins,  rud- 
dy complexions,  blue  eyes  and  light  or  brown  hair,  and  are  gener- 
ally well  formed  and  handsome  men  and  comely  women.  They 
are  a fun-loving,  jovial,  social  people,  never  too  busy  to 
stop  for  a chat  with  a friend.  They  are  alfectionate  and  kind  in 
their  dispositions,  and  honest  and  upright  in  tbeir  dealings  ; yet 
usually  have  energy,  industry  and  business  qualifications  sufficient 
to  become  successful  men. 


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189 


WILLIAM  ADAMS. 

William,  the  oldest  son  of  John  and  Susan  Adams,  was  born 
about  1756,  in  Halifax  Co.,  Ya.,  lived  out  his  days  in  the  old 
neighborhood  of  Black  ^Valnut,  and  died  Sept.  10,  1839,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  83.  He  was  a near  neighbor  and  friend  of  my 
father,  of  whom  I often  heard  him  speak.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  frequently  in  his  old  age 
referred  to  incidents  connected  with  his  army  life.  Mr.  John  H. 
Adams  remembers  him  as  a man  of  hue  social  qualities,  great  in- 
telligence and  prominence  in  the  county.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  George  Boyd,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  (1782.) 
She  died  Oct.  24,  1846,  and  left  a will,  which  was  probated  Xov. 
23,  1846.  Her  will  was  witnessed  by  her  daughter,  Susan  Rogers, 
and  her  grandson,  John  Rogers,  and  is  on  file  in  Halifax 
County.  Her  husband  also  left  a will,  which  was  probated  Sept. 
23,  1839.  His  will  is  also  on  file  in  Halifax. 

It  is  a singular  fact  that  the  three  Adams  brothers  married 
three  sisters,  daughters  of  George  Boyd.  As  stated,  William 
married  Elizabeth,  Sylvester  married  Rebecca  and  Richard  mar- 
ried Hannah. 

I have  been  able  to  find  trace  of  only  four  of  the  children  of 
William  Adams  ; these  were  two  sons,  Richard  and  John,  and  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom  married  a Mr.  Oakes,  and  the  other,  whose 
name  was  Susan,  married  John  Rogers.  Both  of  these  daughters 
lived  and  died  in  Halifax,  but  I have  no  further  information  of 
them.  The  two  sons  removed,  early  in  life,  to  Chesterfield 
county,  Ya. 

Richard,  son  of  William,  was  born  February  17,  1784,  died 
in  Chesterfield  county  February  12,  1858,  age  75.  I have  in  my 
possession  a copy  of  his  will,  from  which  it  appears  that  he  left  a 
valuable  estate.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  with  Great 
Britain  and  was  a member  of  Capt.  John  B.  Cock’s  company.  He 
married  between  1815  and  1820  Ann  Brown  Tucker,  a daughter  of 
Gen.  Martin  Tucker,  of  Powhatan  county.  Gen.  Tucker  was  an 
officer  in  the  Continental  army  and  was  born  in  1750  and  died  in 
1827.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  as  follows  ; 

1.  William,  m.  Chamberlain  Jones.  Issue: 


190 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


I.  Richard  Anna,  m.  George  Cox. 

II.  Cornelia,  m.  Jeremiah  Fortune. 

III.  Benjamin  Philip,  nnm. 

2.  John  Richard,  m.  (1)  Amanda  Wade,  1849.  Issue: 

I.  Luther  C.,  m.  Laura  Bradshaw. 

II.  Sarah  Chappell,  m.  George  Oliver. 

Amanda  was  the  daughter  of  Sarah  Wade.  She  died  in  185^ 
and  in  1855  Richard  Adams  married  Mary  Ann  Standford,  a 
daughter  of  Saurin  Standford,  of  North  Carolina,  who  was  the 
niece  of  his  first  wife,  and  a grand-daughter  of  Sarah  Wade.  The 
issue  of  this  marriage  was  as  follows  : 

I.  Mary  S.,  m.  Zach  Pointer. 

II.  Richard  and  Adella,  (twins)  unm. 

III.  Theophilus,  m.  Sarah  Wade. 

IV.  Samuel,  m.  Alice  Mitchell. 

V.  William  Henry. 

VI.  Thomas  T.,  unm. 

VII.  Walter,  unm.  See  Chapter  VI. 

I had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  most  of  these  relatives  during 
my  recent  visit  to  the  county  of  Halifax,  in  Virginia.  Those  who 
are  married  have  families  of  children  and  they  are  all  intelligent, 
industrious  and  energetic  people.  The  blood  of  both  the  Adams 
and  Chappell  families  flows  in  their  veins,  for  both  of  the  wives  of 
John  R.  Adams  were  descendants  of  Aunt  Sarah  Wade.  Samuel 
L.  Adams  is  a cultivated  and  accomplished  gentleman  and  I am 
under  many  obligations  to  him  for  assistance  in  the  preparation  of 
this  history  ; as  also  to  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Pointer,  a refined  and  noble 
woman,  of  unusual  intelligence,  who  has  obtained  for  me  much  val- 
uable information.  Thomas  is  a successful  merchant  at  Alton,  and 
was  exceedingly  kind  to  me,  for  which  I desire  to  thank  him,  as  I 
do  all  the  family,  for  their  kindness  and  Old  Virginia  hospitality. 

I was  forcibly  impressed — man  of  the  world  that  I have  been 
— with  the  high  moral  character  and  zealous,  religious  faith  that 
pervades  this  entire  family,  and  could  but  attribute  the  cause  to 
the  early  training,  example  and  religious  influence  exerted  by  that 
noble  old  Christian  woman — the  grandmother  and  great-grand- 
mother of  these  children — Sarah  Wade.  Verily  “Our  good  deeds 
live  after  us.” 


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191 


3.  Jane  Page,  b.  August  14,  1825,  married  William  Archer 
Traylor.  They  have  one  child  living,  Virginia,  who  married 
Andrew  J.  Gallagher.  They  live  in  Manchester,  Va. 

4.  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  May  3,  1828,  died  May  10,  1888,  m. 
Albert  Washington  Traylor  January  19,  1848.  The  children  of 
this  marriage  now  living  are  as  follows  : 

I.  Luther  Edward,  m.  Ruth  Lee  Campbell. 

II.  John  Albert,  b.  1859,  unm. 

III.  Franklin,  m.  Mary  C.  Mimmo. 

IV.  Robert  Lee  (see  sketch  below). 

V.  Martha  Jane,  b.  1868,  unm. 

5.  Frances  Rebecca,  m.  George  Cox,  of  Chesterfield  county,, 
in  1858,  and  died  in  1872.  Issue  : 

I.  George  Floyd,  m.  Anna  Foster. 

II.  Sidney  B.,  unm. 

ROBERT  LEE  TRAYLOR. 

The  descendants  of  the  families  whose  histories  are  written 
in  this  little  volume,  owe  a debt  of  gratitude  to  Robert  L.  Traylor 
that  will  be  hard  to  repay,  for  without  his  assistance  and  encour- 
agement, the  facts  here  recorded  would  never  have  been  resur- 
rected from  the  past. 

Robert  Lee  Traylor  is  a son  of  Albert  W.  Traylor,  a member 
of  an  old  Virginia  family,  tracing  its  origin  back  as  far  as  1674, 
and  of  Mary  Elizabeth  Adams,  as  is  shown  by  the  genealogy  of 
Richard  Adams.  He  was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Va. , September 
23,  1864,  and  on  November  16,  1887,  married  Annie,  daughter  of 
Michael  Gavin,  a merchant  of  Memphis,  Tenn.  There  have  been 
born  to  them  three  children,  now  living,  viz.;  Mary  Gavin,  Annie 
Gavin  and  Albert  Joseph.* 

Mr.  Traylor  resides  in  Richmond,  Va.,  where  he  is  connected 
with  several  corporations.  The  principal  business  followed  by 
him  is  railroad  construction.  The  following  sketch  is  taken, 
with  some  corrections,  from  the  “Biographical  Directory  of 
Railroad  Officers  of  America  “R.  L.  Traylor  was  educated  at 
Richmond  College.  Entered  railroad  service  June  22,  1881,  as  a 
rodman,  on  the  Richmond  and  Alleghany  R.  R.,  from  1881  to 


* Died  in  1894. 


192 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


1885,  was  assistant  engineer,  assistant  to  chief  engineer,  and  sec- 
retary to  president  of  Georgia  Pacific  R.  R.  From  1885  to  1886 
assistant  to  president  and  general  manager  of  Memphis,  Birming- 
ham and  Atlantic  R.  R.  Is  now  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Virginia  Construction  Co.  Has  been  since  its  organization  a 
director  and  vice  president  of  the  Tennessee  Midland  Ry.  Co.” 

It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Traylor’s  advancement  in  his  profes- 
sion has  been  rapid,  and  for  one  of  his  age — he  is  only  30 — his 
position  is  a very  responsible  one.  It  is  my  pleasure  to  have 
formed  a personal  acquaintance  with  him,  he  having  visited  me  in 
Kansas  City  and  I having  visited  him  in  the  City  of  Richmond. 
He  is  one  of  the  brightest  young  men  whom  it  has  ever  been  my 
pleasure  to  meet,  and  with  an  intelligent  mind  combines  great  en- 
ergy and  integrity  of  character.  Physically  he  is  of  medium  size, 
well  formed,  and  has  a dark  complexion,  black  hair  and  eyes. 
He  possesses  an  educated  mind,  well  stored  with  general  in- 
formation, and  as  an  amateur  genealogist,  and  historian  of  the 
colonial  days  of  Virginia,  has,  perhaps,  no  superior  of  his  age  in 
his  native  state. 

John  Adams,  the  son  of  William,  and  brother  of  Richard,  who 
removed  from  Halifax  to  Chesterfield  (one  authority  says  Pow- 
hatan) at  an  early  day,  there  married  Rebecca,  another  daughter  of 
Gen.  Tucker,  who  was,  therefore,  a sister  of  the  wife  of  his 
brother,  Richard.  They  have  been  separated  from  other  branches 
of  the  family  for  many  years,  but  are  said  to  have  had  the  follow- 
ing children  ; 

I.  James,  m.  Adams. 

II.  Elizabeth,  m.  Turner. 

III.  Richard,  is  said  to  have  married  and  emigrated  to 
Missouri. 

IV.  Mary,  m.  Hughes. 

V.  Robert,  m. Shepherd. 

SYLVESTER  ADAMS. 

Sylvester  was  the  second  son  of  John  and  Susan  Wood  Adams, 
and  was  born  in  Halifax  Co.,  Va.,  between  1760  and  1770.  He 
married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  George  Boyd,  on  Feb.  9,  1792,  and 


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193 


the  marriage  license  is  still  on  file  in  that  county.  About  1810 
he  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Humphreys  Co.,  Tenn.,  where  he 
died  on  March  2,  1830.  His  wife  died  on  January  19,  1839. 

There  were  born  to  Sylvester  and  Rebecca  Adams  twelve 
children — six  sons  and  six  daughters.  The  sons  were  Samuel, 
Sylvester,  Thomas,  Boyd,  William,  and  Ichabod  ; and  the  daughters 
were  Martha,  Sarah,  Susan,  Isabella,  Rebecca,  and  Anna.  The 
history  of  each  of  these  will  be  given  as  far  as  it  has  been 
ascertained  : 

1.  Samuel  was  born  in  Halifax  Co.,  Va. , June  5,  1805,  emi- 
grated to  Humphreys  Co.,  Tenn.,  with  his  father  when  a child. 
He  married  Rebecca,  d.  of  John  W.  May.  They  had  four  child- 
ren that  lived  to  maturity.  Their  names  were  John  D.,  Jesse  M., 
Martha  I.  and  Joyx.  Of  these  only  two — John  and  Martha — 
married,  and  only  the  latter,  Mrs.  Martha  I.  Mills,  is  living. 

Samuel  Adams  emigrated  to  Johnson  Co.,  Ark.,  between 
1830  and  1835,  while  it  was  a territory,  and  became  a very 
prominent  man  in  his  adopted  state.  He  was  a member  of  the  first 
legislature  and  was  re-elected  for  several  successive  sessions. 
He  served  eight  years  in  the  state  senate,  and  became  president  of 
that  body.  He  was  subsequently  elected  State  Treasurer,  and 
became  Governor  in  1844.  He  died  in  February,  1856. 

Maj.  John  D.  Adams,  son  of  Gov.  Samuel  Adams,  like  his 
father,  attained  a position  of  great  prominence  in  his  state.  He  was 
born  in  Humphreys  Co.,  Tenn.,  June  23,  1827,  married  Catharine 
Yeiser,  of  Danville,  Ky.,  May  2,  1848,  and  died  on  his  plantation, 
near  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  Dec.  7,  1892.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  War  he  volunteered,  although  quite  young,  and  became 
an  officer  of  some  distinction,  and  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista.  On  his  return  home,  in  1847,  he  became  private 
secretary  to  Governor  Drew.  In  1852  he  engaged  in  steamboating 
on  the  Western  rivers,  became  largely  interested  as  a steam- 
boat owner,  and  thus  acquired  the  title  of  “Commodore  Adams,” 
by  which  he  was  well  known.  He  was  also  extensively  engaged 
in  cotton  planting.  He  was  an  exceedingly  popular  man,  and 
was  in  manners  and  appearance  a typical  Southerner.  Major 
Adams  left  two  sons,  Samuel  B.  and  Dean,  both  of  whom  live  in 
Little  Rock. 


194 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTOEY  OF  THE 


Martha  Isabel,  daughter  of  Governor  Adams,  was  born  Oct. 
28,  1832.  She  has  been  twice  married,  (1)  to  William  W.  Andrews 
(1854.)  Issue  : Leila,  William,  David,  Call,  Leo,  Lula,  and 

Nora.  (2)  Dr.  David  S.  Mills  (1879.)  No  issue.  Mrs.  Mills  re- 
sides at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark. 

2.  Sylvester,  Jr.,  was  the  second  son  of  Sylvester  Adams.  He 
lived  and  died  in  Humphreys  Co.,  Tenn.  I have  no  further  infor- 
mation of  him. 

3.  Thomas,  emigrated  from  Tennessee  and  settled  in  Dallas 
Co.,  Ark.,  in  1849.  He  had  a daughter  named  Susan,  the  only 
one  remembered.  They  were  lost  sight  of  during  the  war  of  ’61, 
and  nothing  more  is  known  of  them. 

4.  Boyd.  Removed  to  Graves  Co.,  Ky.,  and  lived  in  May- 
field  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872.  He  had  two  sons 
and  a daughter.  The  former  were  named  James  and  William,  and 
the  latter  Mary  ; she  married  a banker  named  Ridgeway.  These 
children  probably  yet  live  in  Graves  Co. 

5.  William  is  thought  to  have  been  the  fifth  son.  He  emi- 
grated from  Tennessee  to  Clarksville,  Ark.,  and  was  for  many 
years  Receiver  of  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  that  place. 
He  had  a son  named  Sylvester,  who  emigrated  West  and  now 
lives  near  Portland,  Oregon  ; he  has  also  a daughter  living  in 
Clarksville. 

6.  Ichabod,  or  “Cabe,”  as  he  was  called,  was  the  youngest 
son.  I have  been  able  to  obtain  from  his  son.  Judge  Harvey  L. 
Adams,  a very  full  and  complete  history  of  this  branch  of  the 
family.  Col.  “Cabe”  Adams  was  born  in  Humphreys  Co.,  Tenn., 
Feb.  15,  1812,  married  Ann  C.  Hooper,  January  23,  1833, 
emigrated  to  Texas  in  1850,  and  located  in  Henderson  Co.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Brown,  an  unorganized  county,  on 
the  frontier,  where  he  died,  near  Brown  wood,  October  4,  1878,  re- 
spected and  highly  esteemed  by  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

There  were  born  to  Ichabod  and  Ann  Adams  six  sons  and  five 
daughters,  whose  births  were  in  the  order  named  : 

I.  Judge  Sylvester  Adams  ; b.  in  Tenn.,  March  9,  1834, 
m.  Caroline  Porter,  emigrated  to  Texas,  and  settled 
in  Runnells  Co.  Became  a Judge  of  the  County 
Court,  and  died  Feb.  3,  1889,  leaving  three  sons  and 


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195 


three  daughters,  all  of  whom  now  reside  in  Coke  Co., 
Texas.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  army, 
and  a brave  man. 

II.  Fredonia,  b.  July  3,  1836,  m.  Prof.  Henry  C.  Knight. 
Issue  : 3,  Emma,  Mattie,  and  Robert  Lee,  all  of 
whom  are  now  dead.  Their  mother  died  January 
29,  1861. 

III.  Ennis,  b.  May  13,  1838,  was  a Texas  Ranger,  and 

spent  several  years  fighting  the  Comanche  and  Kiowa 
Indians  on  the  frontier.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  of  1861  he  enlisted  with  his  brothers  and  broth- 
ers-in-law in  the  Confederate  army.  After  the  war 
again  became  a Ranger,  emigrated  to  California  in 
1869,  and  there  married  Virginia  Cox  ; returned  to 
Texas  in  1873,  and  is  now  engaged  in  ranching  in 
the  Indian  Territory,  being  located  at  Addington. 

IV.  Keziah,  born  March  31,  1840,  m.  Brooks  W.  Lee. 

Issue  : 10  children,  8 of  whom  are  now  living.  Mrs. 

Lee  resides  at  the  old  homestead  of  her  father,  in 
Brownwood,  Texas. 

V.  George,  b.  May  3,  1842,  m.  Amanda  Baugh.  Issue  : 

Two  sons,  Sylvester  and  Jay.  They  reside  at  Brown- 
wood,  Texas.  He  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in 
the  service  of  the  state  as  a Ranger,  defending  the 
frontier.  Enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  in  1861, 
and  remained  in  the  service  till  the  close  of  the  war. 

VI.  Rebecca,  b.  Dec.  29,  1844,  m.  (2)  (1)  Dr.  H.  L.  Lit- 
tle. Issue  : Six  children.  (2)  John  H.  Harvey.  Xo 
issue.  They  reside  in  Meridian,  Texas. 

VII.  Amanda,  b.  April  22,  1847,  d.  1858. 

VIII.  Philander,  b.  Feb.  6,  1850,  died  unm.  March  13, 
1877.  He  was  a typical  frontiersman.  Spent  his 
life  on  a cattle  ranch  and  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  19, 
crossed  the  continent  and  drove  a herd  of  cattle  to 
California.  This  was  a most  dangerous  undertaking 
for  one  so  young,  for  all  through  Arizona  and  Xew 
Mexico  they  were  constantly  in  dauger  from  the 


A GEN^EALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Indians  and  were  frequently  attacked  by  them.  He 
was  a born  leader,  a daring,  dashing  young  fellow 
and  knew  not  the  meaning  of  the  word  fear. 

Judge  Harvey  L.  Adams  was  the  fifth  son.  He  was 
born  Sept.  16,  1852,  m.  Mary  C.  Weston,  April  23, 
1879.  No  living  issue.  Removed  to  what  is  now 
Coke  Co.,  in  1875,  where  he  now  resides,  and  of  which 
he  was  elected  County  Judge  in  1889.  I recently  re- 
ceived a visit  from  my  kinsman.  He  is  an  unusually 
intelligent  man,  of  slight  figure,  fiorid  complexion 
and  handsome  form.  He  possesses  in  a pre-eminent 
degree  the  characteristics  of  the  Adams  family,  and 
is  a jovial,  fun  loving,  generous  gentleman. 

For  nearly  half  a century  the  Texas  branch  of  the  family  has 
been  separated  from,  and  lost  sight  of  by  their  kindred.  Several 
years  ago  Samuel  B.  Adams,  of  Little  Rock,  met  Judge  Harvey  L. 
Adams  at  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  when  a relationship  was  traced. 
Samuel  wrote  me  of  the  incident  and  I began  the  hunt  for 
the  ‘dost  tribe,”  and  found  in  our  kinsman  one  who  appreciated 
the  effort  I was  making  to  “gather  in  the  clans,”  and  who  has 
furnished  much  of  the  data  contained  in  this  sketch  of  his  branch. 

X.  Caroline,  b.  November  17,  1758,  m.  Thos.  A.  Collier. 
Issue  : Four  children.  She  died  February  24,  1885. 

XI.  Ichabod,  Jr.,  b.  December  29,  1862,  iinm.  Is  a cattle- 
man, and  lives  at  Miles  City,  Montana. 

Col.  Adams  on  emigrating  to  Texas  went  to  the  frontier,  the 
very  outpost  of  civilization,  and  with  his  stalwart  sons  engaged  in 
cattle  ranching,  a business  than  which  there  has,  perhaps,  been 
none  more  profitable  in  this  country.  More  than  one  boy  has 
started  life  on  the  Western  plains  with  no  other  capital  than  a cow 
pony,  a “slicker,”  a “six-shooter,”  a pair  of  spurs  and  a branding 
iron,  and  retired  from  the  business  a millionaire.  The  life  of  the 
frontiersman  of  Texas  was,  at  that  early  day,  one  of  great  danger, 
and  required  the  highest  type  of  personal  courage.  The  war- 
whoop  of  the  savage  was  often  heard,  and  the  scalping-knife  was 
the  constant  dread  of  the  women  and  children.  But  Col.  Adams 
was  well  fitted  to  become  a leader  of  frontiersmen.  He  was  a giant 
in  size,  being  six  feet  two  inches  tall,  and  weighed  260  pounds,  and 


196 


IX. 


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197 


had  also  some  military  experience  before  removing  to  Texas,  hav- 
ing been  Colonel  of  a regiment  of  State  troops  in  Tennessee. 
While  a man  of  the  kindest  heart  and  of  the  finest  social  qualities, 
he  is  said  to  have  been  vithoiit  fear,  and  admirably  suited  for  the 
rough  life  he  led.  He  was  withal  a pious,  Christian  gentleman, 
and  a member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

There  is  a tradition  which  has  come  down  in  the  family  for 
generations  which  is  that  George  Boyd,  the  father  of  the  three 
daughters  who  married  the  three  Adams  brothers,  William,  Syl- 
vester and  Richard,  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  fearless  of 
men,  and  a fighter  of  no  mean  repute.  He  seems  to  have  trans- 
mitted these  warlike  traits  to  his  grandsons  and  great-grandsons, 
for  most  of  them  were  soldiers  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  no 
braver  or  truer  men  ever  “wore  the  gray.*’ 

I have  been  able  to  obtain  but  little  information  of  the 
daughters  of  Sylvester  Adams  besides  their  names.  Martha  mar- 
ried Hiram  Traylor,  of  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  and  it  is  said  they  have 
a son — Judge  Traylor — living  in  Waverly,  in  that  state.  Sarah 
married  Alex.  Winstead,  Susan  married  Race  Humphreys,  Isabella 

married  Wiley  Xosworthy,  Rebecca  married Mays  and  Anna 

died  unmarried. 

The  name  of  Sylvester  Adams  was  found  but  twice  in  the 
records  of  Halifax  county,  Va.  The  first  was  his  marriage,  the 
second  the  record  of  a deed,  signed  by  him  and  his  wife,  Rebecca, 
and  dated  June  26,  1S02. 

RICHARD  ADAMS. 

Richard  was  the  third  son  of  John  Adams.  I know  but  little 
of  his  history.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  George  Boyd. 
It  may  be  worth  recording  that  George  Boyd  was  a son  of  John 
Boyd,  of  Halifax  countv,  who,  with  his  brother,  Patrick,  were  sons 
of  Rev.  John  Boyd — sometime  a minister  in  Albemarle  county,  Va., 
who  was  licensed  by  the  Bishop  of  Loudon,  1732,  and  died  in 
173S.  The  will  of  George  Boyd,  on  record  in  Halifax  county,  men- 
tions his  daughter,  Hannah  Adams,  widow  of  Richard  Adams,  and 
bequeaths  her  a special  legacy  on  condition,  however,  “that  she 
does  not  marry  Benjamin  Chapman.*’  This  will  was  recorded 


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A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


February  28,  1803.  In  it  is  also  mentioned  Mary  Wade,  a 
daughter  who  had  married  a brother  of  Richard  Wade,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Chappell. 

Richard  Adams  had  four  sons  and  a daughter  who  emigrated 
with  their  uncle  Sylvester  to  Tennessee  in  1810.  Their  names 
were  Richard,  John,  William,  Sylvester,  and  Susan.  The  latter 
had  married  in  Virginia  a Baptist  minister  named  George  Turner, 
who  had  a brother  named  Howard,  who  was  also  of  the 
colony  that  went  to  Tennessee,  and  all  of  whom  settled  in 
Humphreys  county. 

This  William  Adams  was  an  athlete  and  a man  of  prodigious 
physical  strength.  He  was  the  pugilist  of  the  family — a Corbett 
of  the  day  in  which  he  lived.  At  that  period  men  fought,  not  for 
money,  but  to  establish  their  claim  to  the  championship  for  phys- 
ical manhood.  On  one  occasion,  at  the  age  of  18,  he  whipped  a 
‘‘bully,”  named  Buck  Edwards,  in  a prize  fight.  Edwards  had 
been  for  years  the  acknowledged  champion  of  Halifax  county. 
The  fight  took  place  at  South  Boston,  and  Benj.  Adams  and  Wm. 
Biard  were  the  referees  or  seconds.  A ring  was  formed,  the  com- 
batants were  stripped  like  gladiators  to  the  waist.  No  gloves 
were  used,  for  the  battle  was  not  fought  according  to  Marquis  of 
Queensbury  rules,  but  was  what  was  called  a “fist  and  skull” 
fight.  It  is  said  the  young  man  fully  established  his  reputation  as 
a “dead  game”  fighter. 

On  another  occasion  he  was  plowing  in  a field,  near  the  public 
road.  A stranger  came  along  driving  a wagon  loaded  with  hogs 
and  their  squealing  frightened  his  horse  ; he  politely  requested 
the  man  to  stop  his  wagon  until  he  could  turn  his  horse  around, 
but  the  man,  with  an  oath,  refused  to  stop.  Then  William 
jumped  over  the  fence  and  turned  the  wagon,  man,  hogs  and  all 
into  the  middle  of  the  road.  Thereupon  they  proceeded  to  test  their 
manhood,  but  he  always  said  that  that  man  came  nearer  whip- 
ping him  than  any  one  he  ever  fought.  When  a boy  I heard  my 
father  relate  this  incident,  but  had  forgotten  it  until  it  was  recently 
recalled  by  a member  of  the  family,  perhaps  the  oldest  now  liv- 
ing. This  “scrimmage”  occurred  in  Halifax  county  eighty-five 
years  ago.  I could  relate  many  stories  and  traditions  connected 
with  the  lives  of  these  old  men,  some  of  which  would  doubtless 


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199 


prove  interesting  to  their  descendants,  did  the  space  allowed  in  the 
scope  of  this  little  book  permit.  They  are  trivial,  but  to  those  of 
us  who  love  their  memories  are  interesting. 

John  and  William  Adams  both  died  in  Tennessee,  and  it  is 
said  that  John,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  wealthiest  man 
in  his  county.  Richard  and  Sylvester  both  emigrated  to 
Johnson  County,  Ark.,  with  their  cousins,  the  sons  of  Sylvester, 
about  1835.  Sylvester  married  Mary  Grantham,  They  were  lost 
sight  of  during  the  war  and  nothing  further  is  known  of  them  by 
their  relatives.  Richard  (son  of  Richard),  on  his  removal 
to  Arkansas,  became  a cotton  planter.  In  1858  my  father 
(John  Chappell)  and  my  uncle  (Maj.  John  B.  Adams),  visited 
their  relatives  in  Arkansas.  Among  others,  they  met  Rich- 
ard Adams,  the  same  jolly,  good  natured,  fun  loving  man  wdiom 
they  had  known  as  a boy  in  Virginia.  He  ran  his  hand  in 
his  pocket  and  took  out  what  appeared  to  be  a handsomely 
bound  copy  of  the  bible  ; in  fact,  on  the  back  of  it  was  marked, 
“Holy  Bible.”  In  a sedate  manner  he  asked  my  father  if  he  ever 
read  the  bible.  He  then  with  a laugh  touched  a spring  and  offered 
him  a drink  of  good  apple  brandy,  for  the  bible  was  simply  a 
handsome  flask.  Richard  Adams  lived  out  his  days  and  died  near 
Clarksville,  Ark. 

There  are  doubtless  descendants  of  William  and  John  Adams 
yet  living  in  Humphreys  Co.,  Tenn.,  but  I have  not  been  able 
to  trace  them,  nor  have  I been  able  obtain  any  further  information 
as  to  the  descendants  of  Richard  and  Hannah  (Boyd)  Adams.  I 
am  under  obligations  to  Mrs.  Mills  and  Judge  H.  L.  Adams  for 
data  contained  in  this  sketch  of  the  descendants  of  Sylvester 
and  Richard  Adams. 

JOHN  ADAMS. 

The  John  Adams  here  referred  to  was  the  fourth  son  of  John 
and  Susan  Wood  Adams.  He  was  born  in  Halifax  Co.,  about  1763, 
and  died  in  1835,  aged  72.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  under  General  Greene,  and  fought  in  the  battle  of  Guilford 
Court  House,  N.  C.,  March  15,  1781;  he  was  then  eighteen  years 
old,  but  continued  in  the  army  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
a very  large  man,  and  weighed  about  300  lbs.  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  never  left  the  old  county. 


200 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


John  Adams  married  Esther  Turner,  of  Gloucester  Co.,  and 
they  had  three  children,  Sarah,  Samuel,  and  Nancy. 

1.  Sarah  married  Dr.  Currie  Barnett,  of  Person  Co.,  N.  C., 
who  became  distinguished  in  his  profession,  and  was  in  many 
respects  a prominent  man.  The  following  children  were  the  issue  : 

I.  John  Adams,  m.  unknown. 

II.  Eliza,  rn.  Dixon  Bolton. 

III.  George,  died  unm. 

IV.  Ann,  m.  Joseph  Standfield. 

V.  James,  m.  unknown. 

VI.  Campbell,  m.  Miss  Scott. 

VII.  Samuel,  m.  Miss  Trotter. 

Of  the  above  mentioned  John  became  prominent;  represent- 
ed his  county  in  the  legislature,  and  was  for  many  years  sheriff  and 
held  other  positions  of  honor  and  trust ; he  died  at  an  advanced 
age.  Dixon  Bolton,  husband  of  Eliza,  was  a brother  of  Dr.  Wm. 
Bolton,  who  removed  to  Missouri  and  became  a highly  esteemed 
citizen.  He  died  in  Jefferson  City  about  1860.  Eliza  is  still  living 
in  Person  Co.,  at  an  advanced  age  ; and  has  two  sons,  J.  C.  and  G. 
B.  Bolton,  living  in  Lamar  Co.,  Texas,  both  of  whom  married 
daughters  of  Hichard  Wade.  Ann  died  without  children.  James 
Barnett  was  a merchant  and  raised  a large  family  at  Roxboro,  N.  C. 
Campbell  is  still  living  in  Person  Co.  The  wife  of  Samuel  Barnett 
was  a niece  of  Col.  Levi  and  Jerry  Dixon,  old  and  respected  citizens 
of  Cole  Co.,  Mo.  I have  known  that  the  Dixons  and  Adamses 
in  Missouri  claimed  relationship,  but  never  knew  before  how  this 
relationship  existed.  There  were  probably  other  intermarriages 
between  these  old  families. 

2.  Samuel  Adams,  the  only  son  of  John  Adams,  was  born  in 
1784,  and  married  Ellen  R.  Barnett.  She  was  a sister  of  his 
uncle  Benj.  Adams’  wife.  He  died  in  1864,  leaving  four  children, 
viz.:  John  Henry,  Margaret,  Martha  and  Susan. 

I.  John  Henry  was  born  in  Halifax  Co.,  Va.,  in  1819, 
m.  Mary  White,  and  in  1869  removed  to  Lamar  Co., 
Texas,  where  he  and  his  children  now  live. 
Those  now  living  are  as  follows:  Benjamin,  Sam’ 

uel,  Philip,  Bettie  and  Clifton.  Of  these  Benjamin 
and  Philip  live  in  Kentucky  ; the  former  is  single. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


201 


the  latter  married  Julia  Garrett.  Samuel  married 
a daughter  of  G.  B.  Bolton,  Bettie  married  Felix 
McMurry,  and  Clifton  lives  in  Bogota,  Texas,  and  is 
unmarried. 

II.  Margaret  married  Richard  Wade,  son  of  Sarah  Wade 
(see  Wade  genealogy.)  They  live  in  Lamar  Co., 
Texas. 

III.  Martha  became  the  second  wife  of  Wm.  Howard,  he 
first  having  married  Bettie,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Adams.  Wm.  Howard  had  the  following  children 
by  his  last  marriage  : John,  Samuel,  Ellen,  Frank, 

Sarah,  Nancy,  and  Martha. 

lY.  Susan  married  Joseph  Pointer,  and  they  had  eight 
children,  one  of  whom  was  Zach  Pointer  who  mar- 
ried Mary  S.  Adams,  daughter  of  Richard,  son  of 
^Yilliam.  Mrs.  Susan  Pointer  still  lives  in  Halifax 
Co.,  but  is  very  old.  I have  not  the  names  of  her 
other  children. 

3.  Nancy,  the  youngest  daughter  of  John  Adams  and  Esther 
Turner,  married  John  Ragland,  who  was  a very  wealthy  man,  and 
the  first  merchant  who  ever  sold  goods  at  Black  Walnut,  Va.  He 
removed  to  Milton,  N.  C.,  and  subsequently  emigrated  to  Holly 
Springs,  Miss.  They  had  four  children,  Ann,  Julia,  Sarah  and 
Emma.  Ann  married  Dr.  Thomas.  It  is  not  known  who  the 
other  daughters  married.  Their  descendants,  it  is  supposed,  still 
live  near  Holly  Springs,  Miss. 

The  Adams  family,  while  not,  perhaps,  as  prolific  as  some  others 
mentioned,  were  yet  sufficiently  numerous  to  furnish  their  full 
quota  in  populating  the  new  states  of  the  South  and  West.  I desire 
to  call  the  reader’s  attention  to  one  fact  : among  all  the  numerous 
branches,  and  for  three  or  four  generations,  there  seems  not  to 
have  been  a single  old  maid  : all  the  females  of  the  family,  with- 
out an  exception,  so  far  as  I have  learned,  were  pretty  enough  or 
smart  enough  to  capture  a husband. 

PHILIP  ADAMS. 

Philip  was  the  fifth  son  of  John  Adams,  and  was  born  in 
Halifax  county,  Ya.,  during  the  Revolutionary  war — December 

14- 


202 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


23,  1779.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Fanny  Powell,  the 
daughter  of  a prominent  and  wealthy  family  of  North  Carolina,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children,  Susan  Wood,  Thomas  Powell  and 
Mary  Frances;  their  births  were  in  the  order  named,  and  the  latter 
was  my  mother.  I have  not  the  exact  date  of  this  marriage,  but  it 
was  about  1805. 

My  grandfather’s  second  wife  was  Matilda  Foster,  a cousin  of 
his  first  wife.  This  last  marriage  occurred  about  1817,  and  from 
it  only  one  child  was  born,  a son,  John  Booker  Adams,  who  is 
now  74  years  old,  and  resides  in  Fulton,  Mo.  He  is  the  only  child 
of  his  father  now  living — the  last  of  his  generation.  Soon  after 
my  grandfather’s  first  marriage  he  removed  to  Prince  Edward 
county.  This  must  have  been  in  1807,  for  I found  in  the  Halifax 
records  that  on  November  14,  of  that  year,  he  sold  a farm,  doubt- 
less his  home,  to  his  brother,  Benjamin.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  Prince  Edward  until  1839,  when  he  emigrated  to  Missouri 
with  his  son,  John,  and  located  in  Callaway  county.  My  uncle, 
Thomas  P.  Adams,  and  my  father  had  emigrated  to  the  same  county 
in  1836.  They  all  bought  lands  in  the  same  neighborhood,  oppo- 
site Jefferson  City. 

My  recollections  of  my  grandfather  are  very  distinct,  although 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  May  30,  1845,  I was 
but  a child.  His  death  was  caused  by  being  thrown  by  a young 
horse  against  a tree  in  the  yard.  The  fall  caused  concussion  of 
the  brain,  which  resulted  in  death.  My  grandmother,  a most 
amiable  and  kind  Christian  woman,  survived  him  several  years, 
and  died  at  an  advanced  age  June  16,  1855. 

My  grandfather  was  a man  of  full  habit,  florid  complexion, 
heavy  set,  low  in  stature — about  five  feet  eight  inches — and  had  a 
pleasant,  benevolent  face,  usually  cleanly  shaven.  He  always,  as  I 
remember  him,  rode  a white  saddle  horse,  and  wore  his  hair  long, 
and  it  was  as  white  as  snow.  The  white  horse  and  white  hair 
have  ever  been  associated  together  in  my  mind  as  I recall  this 
picture  of  him,  after  a period  of  half  a century. 

On  coming  to  his  new  home  he  followed  his  old  occupation, 
that  of  tobacco  planting,  for  he  was  a well-to-do  farmer  and  owned 
a good  many  slaves,  to  whom  he  was  ahvays  kind  and  indulgent. 
He  is  remembered  for  his  kindness  of  heart,  charity  and  piety.  He 


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203 


was  a Baptist,  as  were  all  his  family;  that  church  seems  to  be,  by 
tradition,  the  favorite  of  the  Adams  family,  as  the  Methodist  is  of 
the  Chappells. 

In  the  pioneer  days  of  Missouri  there  were  few  physicians  in 
the  country,  and  while  my  grandfather  was  not  a physician,  he 
knew  something  of  the  simple  medicines  used  at  that  time,  and  was 
an  excellent  nurse.  There  was  never  a case  of  serious  sickness  in 
the  neighborhood  that  he  was  not  sent  for,  and  it  is  said  that  when 
the  last  remedy  had  been  applied  and  failed,  and  when  the  angel  of 
death  was  hovering  over  the  pillow  of  the  poor  sufferer,  perhaps  in 
the  rude  log  cabin,  it  was  his  voice,  as  he  knelt  by  his  bedside,  that 
was  raised  in  supplication  to  God  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 

Such  was  the  character  of  this  grand,  good  man,  after  whom 
I,  as  well  as  two  other  grandsons,  were  named,  a name  which  has 
been  perpetuated  down  to  the  present  day  in  the  family. 

SUSAN  WOOD  ADAMS. 

Susan  was  the  oldest  child  of  Philip  Adams.  She  married 
Joshua  Foster,  in  Virginia,  and  they  emigrated  to  Tennessee,  and 
from  there,  before  the  war,  removed  to  Yell  county.  Ark.  They 
had  a large  family  of  children,  but  nothing  has  been  heard  of 
them  for  many  years. 

THOMAS  P.  ADAMS. 

Thomas  was  the  oldest  son  of  Philip  Adams.  An  account  of 
his  marriage  to  Martha,  widow  of  Richard  Jordan,  is  given  in  the 
history  of  the  Pate  family. 

There  were  born  of  this  marriage  three  children,  one  daughter, 
Martha  Thomas,  and  two  sons,  Philip  Watkins  and  Benjamin. 
Martha  married  William  Turner  and  removed,  many  years  ago, 
to  Ft.  Worth,  Texas,  where  the  family  now  lives.  Philip  lives 
in  Lafayette  county.  Mo.,  and  is  a minister  of  the  Christian 
church.  Benjamin  lives  in  Jefferson  City  and  is  a river  pilot. 

Thomas  P.  Adams,  in  his  personal  appearance,  resembled  his 
father.  He  was  a kind  hearted  man,  and  I do  not  think  ever 
had  an  enemy.  He  was  charitable  and  liberal  to  a fault,  in  fact 
his  kindness  and  liberality  caused  him  frequently  to  be  imposed 


204 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


on,  and  prevented  him  from  accumulating  an  estate  ; for  he  was  a 
man  of  good  judgment  and  industrious  habits.  He  died  in  1875, 
leaving  an  inheritance  more  valuable  than  riches — the  name  of  a 
good  and  honest  man. 

MARY  F.  ADAMS. 

How  inadequate  is  language  to  express  the  reverence  and  love 
of  a son  for  the  memory  of  his  sainted  mother  ? Mother  I the 
sweetest  word  in  the  English  language.  She  was  born  in  Prince 
Edward  county,  Va.,  September  8,  1811,  and  was  married  to  my 
father,  John  Chappell,  of  Halifax  county,  on  September  21,  1836, 
being  his  second  wife.  Immediately  after  their  marriage  they 
emigrated  to  Callaway  county.  Mo.  A history  of  their  life  in  Mis- 
souri, and  a biographical  sketch  of  each  of  their  children  is  given 
in  the  Chappell  history.* 

My  mother  was  above  the  medium  size,  and  after  middle  life 
became  fleshy.  She  was  more  of  a brunette  than  blonde,  and  had 
dark  hair  and  a fair  skin  ; her  marked  feature,  however,  was  a 
round,  large,  gray  eye,  an  eye  beaming  with  kindness  and 
affection,  and  never  forgotten  by  those  who  knew  her.  This  eye 
— peculiar  to  the  family — she  inherited  and  has  transmitted  to  her 
offspring.  It  is  called  in  the  family  the  “Adams  eye.”  My 
mother  possessed  every  womanly  virtue  that  goes  to  constitute  the 
Christian  wife  and  mother.  She  was  intelligent,  industrious,  and 
kind  and  affectionate  to  her  family,  servants  and  neighbors.  She 
was  charitable  and  unselfish,  and  her  life  was  full  of  good  deeds. 
Her  heart  was  large,  a characteristic  of  the  Adams  family,  and  she 
was  ever  ready  to  assist  the  poor  and  needy,  and  to  relieve  the 
wants  of  those  in  distress.  She  was  a pious,  Christian  woman,  a 
member  of  the  Southern  Methodist  church,  and  raised  her  children 
in  that  faith.  She  passed  away  May  13,  1868,  at  the  age  of  57,  and 
her  remains  rest  in  the  family  cemetery  in  Callaway  county,  Mo. 

MAJ.  JOHN  B.  ADAMS. 

John  Booker  Adams  was  the  youngest  son  of  Philip  Adams, 
and  was  born  in  Prince  Edward  Co.,  Virginia,  May  23,  1819.  He 


* See  Chapter  V. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AKD  OTHER  KIKDEED  FAMILIES. 


205 


was  twice  married,  first  in  Virginia,  June  IT,  1840,  to  Ann  Maria 
Allen,  by  whom  there  were  several  children  born,  two  only  of 
whom  are  now  living,  viz.;  Mary  M.  and  Philip  Samuel. 

As  has  been  stated,  my  uncle  removed  to  Missouri  in  1839, 
Avith  his  father,  and  located  in  Callaway  Co.,  Avhere  he  followed 
the  old  vocation  of  farming  and  tobacco  planting.  On  the  death 
of  his  first  Avife,  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Alexander  Chappell 
of  the  Tennessee  branch  of  the  Chappell  family  ; a sketch  of 
her  is  given  in  the  history  of  that  family.  She  was  at  the  time 
he  married  her  the  Avidow  of  Samuel  Allen,  who  was  a brother  of 
his  first  wife.  By  this  marriage  but  one  child  was  born,  a son 
named  Thomas  Sylvester. 

1.  Mary  M.  Adams  aa’us  born  Aug.  19, 1841,  and  married  Dr.  J. 
J.  Brown,  a very  successful  railroad  contractor.  They  have  one 
child,  a daughter,  Anna,  now  17  years  old.  Mrs.  Mary  BroAvn  is 
a typical  Adams  ; she  is  very  nearly  a blonde  and  is  an  educated 
and  refined  woman. 

2.  Philip  Samuel  Adams  was  born  Sept.  20,  1850,  married 
Anna  Wheeler,  Feb.  4,  1875.  They  have  four  children  liAung, 
named  Wheeler,  Stanley,  Paul  and  Nellie.  He  has  been 
for  many  years  a banker,  and  is  a successful  business  man,  haAung 
accumulated  a good  estate.  He  is  president  of  the  Callaway  Co. 
SaAungs  Bank,  located  at  Fulton,  Mo.,  and  is  well  known  in  the 
state,  having  attained  a reputation  for  energy,  enterprise  and  in- 
tegrity second  to  none. 

3.  Tliomas  SyHester  is  another  connecting  link  betAveen  the 
Adams  and  Chappell  families.  He  is  the  son  of  his  father’s  second 
marriage,  and  Avas  born  Noal  23,  1853,  and  has  never  married ; 
this  is  perhaps  his  own  fault,  howeAmr,  as  he  is  a handsome,  ener- 
getic young  man  of  most  excellent  business  attainments.  He  is 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fire  brick  and  ware,  near  Fulton,  Mo. 

There  was  another  daughter  whose  name  was  Eugenia.  She 
married  Sidney  Hensley,  and  died  young,  leaving  four  daughters  ; 
of  these  only  two  are  now  living — Mary  and  Sarah  Booker.  They 
are  intelligent  and  refined  young  ladies,  and  make  their  home  with 
their  grandfather. 

Major  John  B.  Adams  was  in  his  prime  a handsome  man,  of 
splendid  physique,  is  about  six  feet  tali,  weighs  175  pounds. 


206 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  is  still  a fine  looking  man  for  his  age — he  is  74.  He  has  a 
florid  complexion,  a kindly  blue  eye,  and  hair  now  frosted  with 
age.  He  has  always  been  a man  of  great  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment, and  was  in  ante-helium  days  a large  slave-holder  and  one 
of  the  most  successful  tobacco  planters  in  Callaway  Co. 

I well  remember  the  olden  days,  when  I was  a boy.  His 
house  was  always  open  to  his  relatives  and  friends,  and  he  possessed 
the  happy  faculty  of  making  those  much  younger  than  himself 
feel  on  terms  of  equality  with  him,  which  endeared  him  to  us  all. 
Many  were  the  happy  days  his  young  kindred  spent  under  his 
hospitable  roof.  But  my  uncle  is  growing  old,  he  has  been  always 
one  of  my  best  friends.  May  God  grant  him  yet  many  years,  for 
the  world  has  been  better  for  his  well  spent  life,  and  for  his  having 
lived  in  it. 

BENJAMIN  ADAMS. 

Benjamin  was  the  youngest  son  of  John  Adams,  and  was  born 
in  Halifax  Co.,  Va.,  about  1781.  He  married  Peggy  Barnett,  a 
sister  of  Ellen,  who  married  Samuel  Adams,  son  of  John  and  grand- 
son of  John  and  Susan  Wood  Adams.  The  issue  of  this  marriage 
was  only  two  children;  they  were  both  daughters,  and  were  named 
Martha  and  Sarah  Elizabeth. 

Martha  was  the  oldest.  She  married  Isaac  Palmer  in  Vir- 
ginia and  they  emigrated  to  Missouri  about  1847  and  located  in 
Cole  County,  near  Jefierson  City,  where  she  lived  out  her  days.  I 
remember  her  as  a boy  and  often  visited  the  family,  for  Isaac  Pal- 
mer and  my  father  were  neighbors  and  old  friends  in  both  Vir- 
ginia and  Missouri. 

There  were  born  to  this  couple  the  following  children  : 

1.  Mary,  who  married  George  E.  Wade.  (See  genealogy  of 
the  Wade  family.)  She  died  in  Cole  Co.,  Mo.,  June  11,  1894. 

2.  Sarah  never  married.  She  was  as  pure  and  as  perfect  a 
Christian  woman  as  ever  lived.  She  died  in  Lexington,  Mo.,  to 
which  place  the  family  removed,  about  1860. 

3.  Benjamin,  the  only  son,  went  to  California  in  “’49,”  and 
died  there  in  October,  1850.  (See  Chapter  V.) 

4.  Margaret  married  Dr.  Thos.  Bolton  ; they  had  several 
children,  some  of  whom  are  married.  She  lives  in  Lexington,  Mo. 
Dr.  Bolton  died  several  years  ago. 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  EAMILIES. 


207 


5.  Nancy  Pettis  married  Judge  John  E.  Ryland,  a distin- 
guished lawyer  and  jurist  of  Lexington,  Mo.  They  have  several 
children,  among  whom  is  Isaac  P.  Ryland,  a rising  young  lawyer 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

6.  Martha  married  Maj.  J.  B.  Ketner,  a lawyer  of  Junction 
City,  Kas.,  where  they  live  and  have  a family  of  children. 

There  are  no  more  estimable  people  in  Missouri,  or  none  who 
stand  higher  socially,  than  the  children  and  grandchildren  of  Isaac 
and  Martha  Palmer. 

Sarah*  was  the  name  of  the  second  daughter  of  Benj.  Adams. 
She  married  William  Howard,  who  was  sometimes  called  “Buck 
Howard.”  They  had  three  children,  Margaret,  Robert  and  Ben- 
jamin ; the  latter  was  killed,  it  is  said,  in  the  Confederate  army. 

1.  Margaret  married  Nick  Wade,  of  Danville,  Ya.  He  is 
related  to  Richard  Wade’s  family.  They  have  a large  family  of 
children. 

2.  Robert  married  Margaret  Ellen,  daughter  of  John  H. 
Adams,  of  Texas.  She  died  in  1869,  leaving  one  son,  William. 
William  Howard  married  a second  time,  his  second  wife  was  Martha 
Adams,  daughter  of  Samuel,  son  of  John. 

The  two  daughters  of  John  and  Susan  Wood  Adams  were  named 
Susan  Wood  and  Bettie.  The  former  married  a Mr.  Ball  and 
removed  to  Maryland  or  the  Eastern  part  of  Virginia,  and  lo- 
cated on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  river.  Nothing  further  is 
known  of  her. 

Bettie,  the  youngest  daughter,  is,  by  tradition,  remembered 
as  a great  beauty  and  reigning  belle  in  her  day.  She  married,  but 
the  name  of  her  husband  is  not  remembered  by  any  one  of 
the  family  now  living.  It  is  a sad  reflection  that  of  all  this  nu- 
merous family,  now  scattered  all  over  the  South  and  West,  she, 
who  was,  perhaps,  the  greatest  favorite,  beloved  by  her  parents 
and  friends,  and  worshipped  by  her  six  stalwart  brothers,  should 
be  alone  forgotten,  and  her  name,  even,  lost  to  her  kindred  and 
their  descendants. 


* One  authority  says  Sarah  Elizabeth. 


208 


A GENEALOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CONCLUSION. 

Pride  of  ancestry  is  always  commendable,  especially  when  it 
serves  as  an  incitement  to  honest,  individual  elfort,  and  the  world, 
as  a rule,  attaches  too  little  importance  to  a pedigree.  But  we 
cannot  rely  solely  on  the  good  names  of  those  who  have  gone  be- 
fore us.  The  question  asked  in  the  busy  world  in  which  we  live 
is  not  ’-’■'Whence  came  youT'  but,  “What  are  you?”  When  one 
is  entirely  satisfied  with  his  genealogy,  and  regards  it  as  an  equiva- 
lent of  his  own  efforts,  it  is  time  for  him  to  ask  the  latter  ques- 
tion. If  he  has  no  individual  strength  of  character,  and  rests  his 
merits  alone  upon  the  deeds  of  his  distinguished  progenitors,  then 
is  he  an  unworthy  son  of  a sire,  who,  by  his  energy,  industry  and 
integrity  has  built  up  a good  name  which  has  come  down  to  his 
offspring.  Personality  alone  “goes”  now  in  this  country.  The 
man  must  be  a live,  active,  sentient  being,  wide  awake  and  full  of 
energy.  The  poor  boy  of  to-day  is  the  rich  man  of  to-morrow. 
The  unknown  youth,  without  kindred,  family  influence,  friends,  or 
even  a pedigree,  may  become — as  has  been  the  case — the  President 
of  these  United  States.  Every  man  is  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortune,  and  must  at  last  rise  or  fall  on  his  own  individual  merits. 
Whilst  an  honored  name  is  of  priceless  value,  it  does  not  alone 
provide  the  essential  elements  of  success.  There  must  be  to  sus- 
tain it  industry,  energy,  intelligence  and,  above  all  else,  integrity. 

Within  these  pages  may  be  found  all  that  will  ever  be  known 
of  the  history  of  the  Chappell  family  in  America.  The  compila- 
tion of  the  work  has  required  labor,  time,  patient  research  and  a 
careful  examination  of  all  data  now  to  be  found.  As  it  has  been 
the  first,  it  will  probably  be  the  last  attempt  made  to  recover  and 
record  the  history  of  our  people,  for  the  name  is  now  so  numerous 
and  the  branches  of  the  family  so  scattered  that  any  effort  in  that 
direction  in  another  generation  would  prove  a failure.  If  there 
were  no  other  reason  for  writing  our  history,  and  preserving  our 
traditions,  the  simple  fact  that  ours  is  among  the  oldest  families  in 
the  South  and  West  would  be  sufficient.  There  are  few,  if  any, 
who  can  trace  their  lineage  to  an  earlier  date.  Eight  generations 
have  come  upon  the  stage  of  life  and  passed  away.'  The  ninth  is 
in  the  “sear  and  yellow  leaf,”  and  the  tenth  ih  the  vigor  and 


CHAPPELL,  DICKIE  AND  OTHER  KINDRED  FAMILIES. 


209 


Strength  of  young  manhood.  The  eleventh  is  just  entering  on 
life’s  jouruey,  and  in  some  branches  we  have  representatives  even 
of  the  twelfth  generation.  There  are  few  families  in  this  country 
who  have  representatives  of  the  twelfth  generation  born  on  Amer- 
ican soil.  In  1893  the  lineal  descendants  of  Columbus  were  the 
nation’s  guests  ; they  were  toasted  and  honored  for  their  “blue 
blood”  and  ancient  lineage  ; and  yet  they  were  only  of  the  four- 
teenth generation  in  descent  from  the  discoverer  of  this  continent. 

The  accepted  average  of  human  life  of  a generation,  as  fixed 
by  mortuary  tables,  is  33  years.  Excluding  the  tenth  generation  in 
our  family,  and  those  subsequent  thereto,  who  have  not  lived  out 
their  days,  and  includiug  only  the  ninth,  and  reckoning  from  the 
birth  of  Thomas  Chappell,  the  young  immigrant,  who  was  born  in 
1612,  as  proven  by  the  records,  we  have  to  the  present  time  a 
period  of  283  years — nine  generations  of  32  years  average. 

To  the  older  members  of  the  family  this  little  book  will  doubt- 
less prove  interesting.  It  is  a provision  of  nature  that,  as  Ave 
grow  older,  our  minds  dwell  on  the  past.  But  by  the  younger, 
and  even  middle-aged,  it  may  not  be  appreciated  noAV,  and  they 
may  wonder  why  any  one  should  have  devoted  so  much  time  and 
labor  to  collecting  the  names,  dates  and  facts  that  are  recorded 
here.  The  time  will  come  to  them,  however,  as  their  feet  approach 
the  waters  of  the  great  river  over  which  we  must  all  pass,  that 
they,  too,  will  dwell  on  these  names  and  dates,  and  recall,  in  fond 
memory,  the  familiar  faces  of  those  loved  ones  who  have  crossed 
over  to  “the  great  beyond.” 

This  book  should  be  rebound  in  the  most  durable  Russia 
leather,  and  safely  preserved  among  the  most  valued  family 
archives,  for,  like  the  Sibyl’s  page,  “As  it  lessens  in  numbers  it 
will  in  value  rise.”  Thus  treasured  it  may  be  transmitted  to  your 
children’s  children  and  preserved  in  the  different  branches  of  these 
“Old  Virginia  families”  for  generations  yet  unborn. 


THE  END. 


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